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WLnibtvfiitp  of  JOtortf)  Carolina 


Eenan  jWemortal  Collection 

3fn  jfflemorp  of 

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DEVOTED  TO  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  SOUTH 
IN  THE  CIVIL  WAR 


This  BOOK  may  be  kept  out  TWO  WEEKS 
ONLY,  and  is  subject  to  a  fine  of  FIVE 
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UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


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THE 


CHILDREN'S    WEEK. 


BY     THE     AUTHOR     OF 


THE     MORALS    OF     PLEASURE,'      AND      '  THE     YOUNG 
EMIGRANTS.' 


h-r.r,  LwiYN£cV^  ("R.\ci.ley}_  <S«.(iffv//af:1 


A  social  circle  emulous  to  please. 

Rogers. 


BOSTON, 

PUBLISHED    BY    CARTER    AND    HENDEE, 
BALTIMORE,     CHARLES     CARTER. 

1830. 


DISTRICT  OF  MASSACHUSETTS,  TO  WIT  . 

District  Clerk's  Office. 

Be  it  remembered,  that  on  the  fifteenth  day  of  November,  A.  D.  1830,  in 
the  fiftyfifth  year  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America, 
Carter  and  Hendee,  of  the  said  district  have  deposited  in  this  office  the  title 
of  a  book,  the  right  whereof  they  claim  as  proprietors,  in  the  words  following 
to  wit :  — 

'  The  Children's  Week.  By  the  author  of  "  The  Morals  of  Pleasure,"  and 
"  The  Young  Emigrants."  * 

In  conformity  to  the  act  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  entitled  'An  act 
for  the  encouragement  of  learning,  by  securing  the  copies  of  maps,  charts,  and 
books,  to  the  authors  and  proprietors  of  such  copies  during  the  times  therein 
mentioned ; '  and  also  to  an  act,  entitled  'An  act  supplementary  to  an  act, 
entitled  "An  act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning,  by  securing  the  copies 
of  maps,  charts,  and  books,  to  the  authors  and  proprietors  of  such  copies  du- 
ring the  times  therein  mentioned ; "  and  extending  the  benefits  thereof  to  the 
arts  of  designing,  engraving  and  etching  historical  and  other  prints.' 

JNO.  W    DAVIS, 
Clerk  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


PRINTED    BY   I.    R.   BUTTS. ...BOSTON. 


ELLEN    MURRAY, 


THE    DAUGHTER    OF    ONE    OF    MY    EARLIEST    FRIENDS, 


THIS     LITTLE    BOOK    IS 


AFFECTIONATELY    INSCRIBED. 


O'- 
er 


THE  CHILDREN'S  WEEK. 


CHAPTER    I 


The  actors  are  at  hand,  and  by  their  show 
You  shall  know  all  that  you  are  like  to  know. 

Shakspeare. 


But  we  must  crave  your  patience,  young  friends,  for 
a  few  moments. — We  cannot  permit  our  e  troupe,5  to 
rush  upon  the  stage  without  the  proper  scenic  decora- 
tions, and  in  the  adjustment  of  these,  your  fancy  must 
cooperate  with  ours,  or  the  labor  will  be  lost. — Imagine 
then  a  fine  old  mansion.  Place  it  at  the  northern  side 
of  a  lawn,  consisting  of  at  least  twelve  acres,  and 
shelter  it  from  the  rude  breath  of  Boreas  by  a  beautiful 
wood  of  chesnuts,  walnuts,  and  oaks.  On  the  eastern 
side,  that  it  may  catch  the  first  rays  of  the  morning, 
spread  a  flower  garden  ; — and  on  the  west,  through  a 
screen  of  young  evergreens,  may  be  partially  discerned 
the  offices,  befitting  a  country  gentleman's  establish- 
ment. The  lawn,  which  should  slope  gradually,  till  it 
is  bounded  by  a  row  of  trees,  so  placed,  as  to  intercept 
1 


2  THE    CHILDREN'S   WEEK. 

the  common  view,  (this  being  a  line  of  exclusion  which 
even  in  our  republican  country  is  permitted,)  must  be 
dotted  with  clumps  of  locusts;  and  here  and  there  a 
fine  horse-chesnut, —  the  growth  of  forty  years  or 
more, — should  present  its  dense  foliage  and  regular 
outline. — Now,  over  all,  you  must  assist  us  to  shed  the 
soft  starry  light  of  a  moonless  night  in  midsummer. 
The  evening  though  warm,  is  not  sultry.  There  is  a 
gentle  breathing  over  beds  of  violets,  and  through 
labyrinths  of  honey-suckle  ;  and  a  gush  of  sweetness 
ever  and  anon,  betrays  where  Zephyr  has  been  wan- 
dering.— But  the  little  domain  though  tranquil,  is  not 
solitary.  A  brighter  light  would  disclose  a  pathway 
that  winds  around  on  the  eastern  side,  to  the  dwelling 
of  a  neighboring  farmer  ;  the  postman's  horn  is  just 
announcing  the  arrival  of  the  stage-coach  at  the  village 

of  D ,  scarce  more  than  a  mile  off; — and  the  vapor 

which  seems  to  hang  just  over  the  trees  in  the  south,  is 
probably  a  smoke-wreath  escaped  from  New  York,  — 
about  ten  miles  distant. 

At  this  moment  we  are  attracted  by  voices,  to  the 
long  piazza  which  "occupies  the  front  of  the  house,  where 
are  assembled  the  family  of  Mr  Philips.  —  Elevated 
above  the  rest,  may  be  caught  the  accents  of  his 
youngest  daughter  Matilda,  or  as  she  is  familiarly  called, 
c  Matty,'  a  child  of  eight  or  nine  years  old  ;  who  ex- 
claims in  a  tone  of  impatient,  yet  pleasurable  anticipa- 


THE   CHILDREN'S    WEEK.  O 

tion,  *  what  can  be  the  reason  they  do  not  come  ? — Do 
father  look  at  your  watch — I  'm  sure  the  letter  said 
half  past  nine  o'clock.' 

'  And  just  as  surely  then,'  replied  Mr  Philips,  <  you 
have  no  cause  of  reproach,  for  it  lacks  nearly  an  hour 
of  that  time.' 

1  An  hour  !  O  dear  !  —  but  your  watch  is  never  right 
father — do  grandmamma  look  at  yours.' 

6  Mine,  Matty,'  said  Mrs  Atkinson,  '  chides  your 
impatience  even  more  than  your  father's,  —  for  I  am 
but  fifteen  minutes  after  eight.' 

Matilda  had  now  nothing  to  say;  —  and  leaning 
against  one  of  the  pillars,  she  bent  her  eyes  towards 
that  quarter  from  which  the  house  was  approached. 

1  Father/  said  Hugh,  who  though  nearly  two  years 
older  than  Matilda,  was  quite  as  little  able  to  endure 
delay,  '  shall  we  not  have  a  letter  tomorrow  if  they  do 
not  come.' 

*  I  cannot  promise  you  that,'  replied  his  father, 
*  disappointments  often  come  without  the  explanations 
that  might  reconcile  us  to  them.  —  I  have,  however, 
no  doubt  that  your  cousins  will  be  here  at  the  time 
appointed.' 

Jasper  and  Sarah — the  one  fifteen,  the  other  about  a 
year  younger,  though  more  reasonable  were  not  less 
interested  ;  and  the  whole  group  were  in  that  uneasy 
and  excited  state,  which  is  common  to  young  expect- 


4  THE    CHILDREN'S    WEEK. 

ants.  We  shall  avail  ourselves  of  the  few  moments  of 
silence  jhat  now  ensued,  to  make  the  family  better 
known* 

Mr  Philips,  after  some  years  of  laborious  application 
to  a  mercantile  life,  had  been  induced  to  remove  to  the 
country, —  partly  by  early  attachment,  but  still  more  by 
the  entreaties  of  Mrs  Atkinson,  the  mother  of  his  wife ; 
who  earnestly  desired  the  society  of  her  daughter  and 
grandchildren,  to  cheer  her  widowed  and  solitary  con- 
dition. She  resided  on  her  patrimonial  estate, — a  farm 
under  fine  cultivation,  and  possessing  many  natural 
beauties.  Here,  with  a  calculation  for  happiness  rarely 
made  in  our  country,  they  formed  one  family — their 
interests  and  their  enjoyments  the  same.  Instead  of 
the  deserted  old  age,  which  from  the  eager  pursuit  of 
individual  independence  is  too  common  among  us, — 
where  family  ties  are  feeble  restraints  to  the  desire  that 
every  one  feels  '  to  do  for  himself,' — the  good  lady 
was  the  object  of  most  respectful  and  affectionate 
attention.  A  fine  constitution,  a  happy  temperament, 
an  intellectual  taste,  had  enabled  her  to  resist  the  touch 
of  time.  A  slight  lameness  gave  an  appearance  of 
infirmity  to  her  step,  but  with  this  exception,  the  winter 

of  life  sate  most  gracefully  upon  her.     Her  complexion 

- 
yet  retained  much  of  its  original  beauty  ;  her  eye  was 

bright,  her  smile  sweet,  her  person  erect,  her  manner 

commanding,  yet  mild  and  engaging. 


THE    CHILDREN'S    WE&K.  5 

Mrs  Atkinson  wisely  reflecting  that  two  mistresses  in 
one  house,  would  as  little  conduce  to  the  harmony  of 
the  system  as  two  suns  in  one  heaven,  had  resigned  to 
her  daughter  the  administration  of  the  household. 

6  Let  me  but  reign  in  the  hearts  of  my  grand- 
children,' she  would  say,  i  and  I  want  no  other  do- 
minion.' 

There  indeed  she  was  supreme — her  opinion,  her 
taste  was  conclusive.  She  was  to  be  sure,  sometimes 
obliged  to  make  sacrifices  to  preserve  the  allegiance  of 
her  capricious  little  subjects ;  but  it  was  so  discreetly 
done,  that  she  suffered  no  important  encroachments. 
Hugh  had  once,  it  must  be  confessed,  so  far  imposed  on 
her  good  nature,  as  to  conceal  in  her  dressing  room,  a 
favorite  bantam  chanticleer,  but  as  he  averred  that  he 
had  only  done  so  in  order  that  he  might  rise  at  cock- 
crowing,  to  prepare  for  an  examination,  his  grand- 
mother in  consideration  of  such  extraordinary  exertions, 
forgave  the  offence.  A  family  of  kittens  too,  during 
one  cold  January,  were,  at  the  solicitations  of  Matty, 
reared  in  her  bed  room  ;  and  it  is  a  fact,  that  the  kind 
hearted  lady  rose  one  severe  night,  to  throw  a  warm 
covering  over  mistress  Puss  and  her  young  ones — an 
action,  that  no  one  perhaps  entirely  appreciated  but 
Matty.  We  well  remember  too,  finding  her  one  day 
intently  busied  in  feeding,  and  then  brooding  in  her  ' 
bosom,  a  poor  little  chick,  that  had  peeped  out  of  its 
1* 


%  shell  some  six  or  eight  days  too  soon  for  its  comfort; 
and  must  have  perished  in  the  snows  of  an  unkindly 
April,  but  that  her  compassion  could  not  resist  the 
pleadings  of  the  children.  Nor  was  her  assistance 
and  indulgence  relied  on,  only  in  these,  and  similar 
small  matters. — If  lessons  were  to  be  learned,  —  tasks 
could  nowhere  be  so  easily  accomplished  as  in  '  grand- 
mamma's room.'  If  themes  were  to  be  written, —  that 
greatest  of  all  labors  to  children, —  she  alone  possessed 
the  '  sesame,'  that  could  unlock  their  brains — she  alone 
could  find  subjects  for  every  despairing  scribbler,  If  a 
difficulty  in  morals,  or  a  doctrine  in  religion,  puzzled 
their  consciences,  or  confounded  their  speculations, — 
she  was  their  casuist  and  expositor.  If  a  fact  in  history, 
or  an  allusion  in  poetry  was  to  be  sought  or  explained, — 
a  resort  to  her  was  the  final  appeal. — In  short,  she  was 
a  complete  juvenile  encyclopedia. —  But  to  return  to 
the  piazza. 

Sarah,  in  the  contemplation  of  the  clear  firmament, 
had  raised  her  thoughts  above  the  highway  where 
shortly  before  they  had  been  travelling.  She  was  of  a 
reflecting  temper,  and  her  mind  was  open  to  the  im- 
pressions of  intellect  and  beauty. 

'What   are   you  thinking  of,    Sarah?'    asked  her 
mother. 

'  I  was  thinking  of  the  stars,'  replied  she  — { that 
they  seemed  just  as  if  they  were  looking  down  upon 


us,  and  I  could  almost  believe  that  they  know  what  we 
are  doing.     Did  you  ever  have  such  a  thought,  mother?' 

'  Yes,  my  dear,  often.  It  is  an  idea  too,  for  which 
there  is  higher  authority  than  mine.  Shakspeare,  I 
think,  calls  them  "eyes  of  light." — Imagination  has 
always  been  busy  with  them,  working  them  into  fables 
and  forms,  till  every  star  can  tell  a  tale.  For  instance, 
we  cannot  look  up  at  the  cluster  now  just  above  us,  the 
Corona  Borealis,  but  the  story  of  Theseus'  valor  and 
ingratitude,  of  Ariadne's  love  and  wrongs,  recurs  to  us.' 

'  And  the  despair  of  poor  old  Egeus  too,'  said  Mrs 
Atkinson, — '  I,  at  least,  never  forget  him.' 

6  Do  mother,'  said  Matilda,  deserting  her  post  of 
observation,  '  tell  me  something  about  the  constellations, 
as  grandmamma  used  to  tell  Jasper  and  Sarah.' 

1 1  dare  not  enter  into  comparison  with  your  grand- 
mother,' said  Mrs  Philips,  '  my  memory  is  sure  to  play 
me  a  trick  whenever  I  am  so  presumptuous.' 

4  Well,  grandmamma,  won't  you  then,'  urged  Matty. 

Mrs  Atkinson,  glad  to  cheat  the  time  till  the  expected 
visiters  should  arrive,  willingly  complied. 

1  The  clear  frosty  nights  of  autumn  and  winter,'  said 
she,  '  are  most  favorable  to  the  observation  of  the  stars, 
when  coming  forth  from  the  blue  depths  of  heaven, 
their  multitude  and  beauty  amaze  and.  delight  us 
However  we  can  even  in  this  grey  light,  trace  some 
of  the  larger  constellations. — There,  immediately  south 


8 


of  us,  his  tail  yet  scarcely  above  the  horizon,  is  the 
Scorpion.' 

i  Grandmamma,'  interrupted  Matilda,  *  that  always 
seemed  to  me  a  very  queer  name  for  stars.' 

'  I  think  so  too,  dear,  but  I  believe  we  can  find  a 
whimsical  sort  of  a  reason  for  it.' 

'  A  whimsical  sort  of  a  reason  ! '  repeated  Hugh, 
*  what  sort  of  a  reason  is  that,  pray,  grandmamma.' 

c  O,  only  a  reason  sufficient  for  a  girl,  to  be  sure,' 
replied  Mrs  Atkinson,  tapping  his  cheek  — '  so  let  me 
proceed.  The  sun  is  in  this  sign  the  last  of  October, 
and  the  first  of  November.  He  is  then  receding  from 
us,  and  his  influences  are  supposed  to  be  connected 
with  the  diseases,  which  prevail  in  autumn.  Now  as 
the  scorpion  wounds  in  retreating,  its  name  and  figure 
have  been  fancifully  applied  to  that  cluster  of  stars.' 

*  And  grandmamma,  what  is  that  large  star  nearly  on  a 
line  with  the  highest  one  in  Scorpion?' 

'In  what  direction,  dear?' 

4  There  —  west  —  is  it  not  ?' 

£Yes  —  that  is  Spica  —  it  is  in  the  hand  of  the 
Virgin.  The  sun  enters  this  sign  about  the  time  of 
harvest,  and  it  is  supposed  therefore  to  represent  a 
young  female  reaper.  —  But  you  have  carried  me  out 
of  my  track.  You  must  go  back  with  me  to  Scorpion, 
and  then  direct  your  eye  at  about  an  equal  height  with 
it  above  the  horizon,  till  you  arrive  exactly  in  the  east — 


a  little  further  —  there — -try  to  follow  my  finger  — 
now  you  have  it  I'm  sure,  —  four  stars,  forming  a 
diamond  — .' 

6  O  yes  —  and  another  a  little  way  off.' 
c  Exactly  right.  They  are  in  the  Dolphin.  The 
poets  have  many  fables  about  this  constellation.  Some 
say  that  Arion,  a  famous  musician  of  Lesbos,  was 
thrown  overboard  by  sailors,  who  wished  to  possess 
themselves  of  his  wealth.  But  his  music  having 
previously  attracted  a  number  of  Dolphins  around  the 
ship,  they  pressed  forward,  emulous  of  saving  his  life, 
and  presented  their  little  crooked  backs,  for  all  the 
world  like  so  many  saddles,  upon  which  he  could  ride 
the  waves  in  safety.  Arion  was  very  glad  of  the  offer 
as  you  may  suppose,  more  so  than  if  the  Prince  of 
Cobourg's  fifty  horses  had  been  at  his  service  ;  and 
instantly  mounting  the  foremost,  was  conveyed  to  a 
place  of  safety, —  the  rest  attending  to  furnish  relays  if 
necessary.  It  is  added,  however,  that  the  poor  dolphin 
having  stranded  himself,  could  not  reimbark  ;  and  that 
Arion  ungratefully  permitted  him  to  perish  on  the  shore ; 
upon  which  the  gods,  more  just  than  man,  placed  him 
among  the  stars.' 

'  That 's  good  ! '  cried  Hugh,  —  whose  sympathy 
with  the  inferior  orders  of  creation  made  him  almost 
receive  fable  for  fact,  —  '  that 's  good  !  —  now  tell  us 
some  more,  grandmamma,' 


10  THE    CHILDREN'S    WEEK. 

*  But  first  grandmamma,'  said  Matilda,  '  tell  me  one 
thing  —  why  do  you  call  some  signs,  and  some  con- 
stellations'? are  they  not  all  constellations?  I  know 
which  the  signs  are,  for  I  have  learned  them,  —  Aries, 
Taurus,  and  so  on,  —  but  I  do  not  know  why  you  call 
them  so.' 

e  You  are  right,'  replied  Mrs  Atkinson, — '  constella- 
tion, which  means  a  cluster  of  stars,  is  applicable  to  all 
the  groups  you  see,  but  only  twelve  are  distinguished 
as  signs.  Perhaps  they  are  so  called  because  they  are 
signals  of  the  sun's  progress,  as  he  passes  through 
them ;  or  because  they  are  emblems  of  the  manner  of 
his  movement ;  as  the  crab  denotes  his  backward  course 
when  he  turns  to  the  south ;  and  the  goat  represents 
his  ascent,  or  climbing,  towards  the  north.  Others 
again  are  emblematic  of  circumstances  attending  the 
change  of  seasons,  —  as  in  the  instances  I  have  already 


told 


you 


6  But  grandmamma,'  said  Sarah,  '  these  cannot  be 
applicable  in  all  places. —  To  the  people  in  the  southern 
parts  of  the  globe,  he  would  appear  to  go  back,  instead 
of  ascending,  when  in  Capricorn.' 

(  You  forget  my  dear,  that  the  science  of  astronomy 
received  its  nomenclature  in  the  northern  hemisphere. 
Chaldea,  a  great  part  of  Egypt  and  Arabia,  countries 
in  which  the  first  observers  of  the  heavenly  bodies 
dwelt,  though  much  more  south  than  we  are,  are  still 
north  of  the  tropic  of  Cancer,' 


11 


*  Yes,  that  is  true.  —  There  is  one  thing,'  continued 
Sarah,  '  that  often  puzzles  me.  I  have  got  over  the 
difficulty  of  the  apparent  motion  of  the  sun,  but  why- 
is  he  said  to  be  in  a  sign,  when  we  know  that  the  fixed 
stars  are  so  much  more  distant  than  he  ? ' 

■  It  is  because  the  heavenly  bodies  can  be  subjected 
to  the  test  of  only  one  of  our  senses  —  sight ;  which 
you  know  requires  to  be  corrected  by  the  touch.  When 
you  look  at  the  moon,  does  she  not  appear  to  be  in,  or 
among  the  stars  ? ' 

<  Yes.' 

'  In  like  manner,  we  transfer  the  sun  to  the  same 
plane  with  the  stars,  though  they  are  at  an  infinite  dis- 
tance ;  and  the  language  of  the  science,  has  been 
adapted  to  the  apparent  fact.' 

4  You  should  reflect  too,  Sarah,'  said  her  father, 
c  though  the  terms  by  which  the  science  is  conveyed, 
are  founded  on  false  appearances,  yet  this  language  is 
so  connected  with  all  observations  of  the  past,  and  all 
calculations  for  the  future,  that  it  is  more  easy  to  set 
our  own  minds  right,  than  to  correct  what  may  be  called 
the  madness  of  astronomy,  which  always  "  reasons  cor- 
rectly, from  false  premises."  —  It  is  after  all,  more  a 
matter  of  surprise,  that  such  an  accurate  knowledge 
has  been  obtained  of  these  distant  bodies,  than  that 
errors  and  deceptions  should  have  been  incorporated 
with  it.  —  In  the  words  of  our  favorite  Paley,  "  that  an 


12  THE  CHILDREN'S    WEEK. 

animal  confined  to  the  surface  of  one  of  the  planets, 
bearing  a  less  proportion  to  it,  than  the  smallest  micro- 
scopic insect  does  to  the  plant  it  lives  upon ;  that  this 
little  busy,  inquisitive  creature,  should  have  been  able  to 
observe  the  whole  system  of  worlds  to  which  its  own 
belongs,  is  wonderful." ' 

1  Grandmamma,'  said  Hugh,  taking  advantage  of  a 
pause,  '  have  n't  you  some  more  fables  to  tell  us  ?' 

1  A  few,  perhaps  —  but  I  'm  afraid  my  stock  will 
soon  be  spent.  I  wish  for  your  sake,  that  I  could  sweep 
the  heavens  more  skilfully.' 

6  Sweep  the  heavens,'  repeated  Matty,  6  now  what 
does  that  mean  ? 

'Miss  Caroline  Herschel,'  replied  Mrs  Atkinson, 
c  the  sister  of  the  great  astronomer,  partook  of  his  taste 
and  genius,  and  was  a  valuable  assistant  to  him.  When 
they  were  seated  in  his  observatory,  she  would  place 
her  eye  at  the  telescope,  which,  turning  on  a  pivot,  and 
each  time  with  an  increased  elevation,  would  in  its 
successive  circuits,  take  in  all  the  visible  heavens. 
During  this  time,  she  would  inform  her  brother  if  any 
thing  of  interest  occupied  the  field  of  the  instrument, — 
upon  which  he  made  notes  at  the  same  moment.  This 
she  called  "  sweeping  the  heavens."  ' 

4 1  should  like  such  sweeping  ! '  cried  Matty.  *  But 
now  grandmamma  go  on,  and  I  will  not  interrupt  you 
again.' 


13 


5  Direct  your  eye  then  northwest  from  the  Dolphin, 
till  it  meets  a  very  large  star  surrounded  by  several 
smaller  ones — have  you  found  it  ?' 

<  Yes.' 

'  That  is  in  Lyra  ;  and  this  you  must  know  is  said  to 
be  the  very  lyre  with  which  Orpheus  so  softened  the 
infernal  deities,  that  they  gave  him  back  his  wife  again. 
You  remember  I  told  you  the  story  the  other  day,  when 
you  asked  me  the  meaning  of  the  line 

"  His  numbers  rais'd  a  shade  from  hell."  ' 

1  Yes,  yes,5  cried  Matty  and  Hugh,  '  we  remember 
that,  very  well.' 

'Now  pass  the  northern  crown,'  continued  Mrs 
Atkinson, '  I  believe  you  all  know  that — and  descending 
a  little  south,  you  will  see  the  star  Arcturus,  in  Bootes ; 
who  is  supposed  to  be  Areas,  the  son  of  the  nymph 
Calisto.  He  was  a  great  huntsman, — a  taste  he  proba- 
bly inherited  from  his  mother,  who  was  one  of  Diana's 
attendants.  But  like  those  of  some  other  young  gentle- 
men, his  sport  had  nearly  proved  death  to  others  ;  for 
poor  Calisto,  having  been  changed  into  a  bear,  he  was 
on  one  occasion  near  killing  his  own  mother ;  so  to  get 
her  out  of  harm's  way,  Jupiter  transferred  her  to  the 
skies,  under  the  form  of  the  Ursa  major,  or  great  bear  ; 
and  when  Areas  died,  he  had  a  similar  promotion  under 
the  constellation  of  Bootes.  He  is  represented  with  a 
2 


14 


club  in  one  hand,  and  with  the  other  holding  two  dogs 
in  a  leash,  who  are  barking  at  Calisto.' 

Here  Mrs  Atkinson  was  interrupted  by  a  general  start 
from  the  children,  whose  senses  quickened  by  expecta- 
tion, had  caught  the  sound  of  approaching  wheels. 

' 1  hear  the  first  gate  open,'  exclaimed  Matty, 
'  they  've  come  !  they  Ve  come  !' 

c  Yes,  that  must  be  the  carriage,'  cried  Jasper,  ;  let 's 
run  and  meet  it' — and  followed  by  Hugh,  he  was  soon 
out  of  sight.  Sarah  was  too  happy  for  speech,  Matty 
jumped  and  laughed  with  joy, — and  Areas  was  left  to 
drive  the  bear  around  the  pole  without  further  observa- 
tion. 

It  was  not  many  minutes  before  a  carnage  issued 
from  the  long  avenue  by  which  the  house  was  ap- 
proached, and  Jasper  reaching  the  piazza  at  the  same 
instant,  eagerly  opened  the  door  to  receive  his  cousins, 
Richard  and  Helen  Lee.  They  were  about  the  ages 
of  Jasper  and  Sarah, — the  children  of  a  daughter  of 
Mrs  Atkinson,  residing  in  New  Jersey.  Their  accus- 
tomed visits  to  their  grandmother  had  latterly  been  in- 
terfered with,  by  the  increasing  demands  of  their  educa- 
tion ;  but  the  present  vacation  was  in  part  to  be  passed 
with  her, — and  it  had,  therefore,  been  looked  forward 
to  with  the  greater  interest. 

For  some  moments  the  joy  of  all  parties  was  mani- 
fested by  the  usual  noisy  demonstrations.     Having  at 


15 


length  assumed  the  quiet  tone  of  decided  satisfaction, 
the  visiters  were  in  a  proper  frame  of  mind  to  answer  the 
interrogatories  relating  to  home,  parents,  schools,  he, 
&c,  natural  on  the  occasion — after  which  they  retired 
to  the  sweet  rest  of  youth,  too  profound  even  for  visions 
of  the  morrow's  enjoyment. 


CHAPTER    II 


Mouflar,  sur  le  fait  meme  pris, 
N'attendait  plus  que  le  supplice. 

Florian. 


The  following  morning  as  soon  as  breakfast  was  over, 
Sarah  and  Jasper  produced  whatever,  as  they  believed, 
would  most  contribute  to  the  entertainment  of  their 
guests ;  and  Hugh  and  Matilda,  emulating  their  example, 
were  not  behind-hand  in  the  like  courtesy.  Jasper 
offered  for  the  inspection  and  amusement  of  Richard, 
the  usual  equipments  for  country  sports.  Sarah  brought 
out  for  Helen,  all  the  variety  of  '  Annuals,'  from  the 
elegant  foreign  Souvenirs,  to  the  tasteful  little  '  Youth's 
Keepsake,'  of  home  manufacture  ;  besides  Portfolios, 
Albums,  Sec,  &c.  Matty  exhibited  her  exquisite  ring- 
doves ;  suppressing  for  the  present,  the  mortifying  fact, 
that  they  were  likely  to  '  die,  and  leave  the  world  no 
copy  of  their  graces ' — such  was  the  unaccountable  and 
unnatural  propensity  of  this  particular  pair  to  destroy 
their  own  eggs.  Hugh,  on  his  part,  in  the  zeal  of  his 
politeness,  ventured  to  introduce  into  the  parlor,  (a  for- 
bidden indulgence,)  his  friend  Warder,  a  fine  young 


17 


mastiff, — in  all  the  frolic  and  mischief  of  puppyhood, 
which  we  are  warranted  in  saying,  he  would  not  have 
exchanged  for  the  doves  of  Venus.  In  the  midst  oi 
the  excitement  thus  created,  Mr  Philips  entered,  and 
approaching  the  table,  '  I  hope,  Sarah,'  said  he,  '  that 
your  cousin  has  brought  you  no  books — unless  indeed 
it  be  the  "  Cook's  Oracle."  ' 

Helen  laughed,  but  Sarah  blushed.  She  knew  these 
words  though  uttered  kindly,  were  still  a  reproof. 

6 1  am  ashamed  to  say  I  have  not,'  replied  Helen, 
6  but  the  truth  is,  that  knowing  Sarah  to  be  such  a 
reader,  I  supposed  she  had  already  everything  I  was 
likely  to  find.' 

4  She  certainly  is  "  a  reader,"  '  replied  Mr  Philips, 
smiling,  '  and  I  am  glad  of  it ;  but  I  wish  her  to  be 
something  more— I  want  that  she  should  also  be  that 
old-fashioned,  indispensable,  comfortable  thing — a  good 
housekeeper  ;  and  I  am  afraid  with  her  present  tastes 
and  habits,  I  shall  not  be  gratified.  I  like  poetry, 
painting,  music,  and  still  better  history  and  science  ; 
but  I  must  say  I  cannot  even  for  these,  sacrifice  skill  in 
domestic  affairs.  Neither  are  they  incompatible  ;  a 
girl  will  even  accomplish  more  of  everything,  from  the 
sense  of  the  greater  demands  on  her  time,  by  the  dili- 
gence and  energy  thus  called  forth.  What  do  you  say 
to  this,  Helen  ?' 

4  0,1  suppose  you  are  right  uncle.' 
2* 


18  THE    CHILDREN'S    WEEK. 

6  As  some  proof  of  it,'  continued  Mr  Philips,  '  I  must 
tell  you,  as  1  have  already  told  Sarah,  what  I  observed 
during  a  visit  to  a  friend  of  mine  last  spring.  The  lady 
of  the  house  was  indisposed.  She  had  been  for  some 
time  an  invalid  ;  but  there  was  not  the  slightest  appear- 
ance of  neglect  or  confusion  in  the  house.  Her  two 
daughters,  not  much  older  than  you  and  Sarah,  had 
been  so  trained,  that  young  as  they  were,  they  supplied 
their  mother's  place, — alternately  discharging  the  duties 
that  devolved  upon  them.  The  youngest  was  in  office 
at  the  time  of  my  visit ;  and  although  the  family  was 
large,  including  several  children,  and  some  guests  beside 
myself,  there  was  no  perturbation,  no  bustle.  She  rose 
early,  and  entered  on  her  labors  with  the  greatest  alac- 
rity ;  and  gliding  about  with  her  little  basket  of  keys  on 
her  arm, — the  very  personification  of  domestic  order 
and  quiet, — she,  by  a  look,  a  word,  or  a  touch,  effected 
whatever  she  wished.  At  dinner  she  would  have  mod- 
estly resigned  the  head  of  the  table  to  her  elder  sister, 
in  consideration  of  the  presence  of  visitors,  but  her 
father  justly  decided,  that  honor  should  accompany 
responsibility.  Thus  placed,  no  awkwardness  or  inat- 
tention betrayed  incapacity.  She  carved  with  neatness, 
and  attended  to  her  guests  with  the  most  perfect  pro- 
priety.— And  now  for  the  point  of  my  story — she  had 
read  much  more  than  most  girls  of  her  age,  had  made 
very  respectable  progress  in  her  several  studies,  and 


19 

had  considerable  taste  and  skill  in  the  use  of  her  pencil. 
Now  don't  you  think  I  have  made  out  my  case  ?' 

Helen  assented  with  a  good  humored  smile,  and 
Sarah  looked  the  approbation  she  was  too  generous  not 
to  feel. 

'  I  had  no  intention,  however,  my  dear  girls,'  said  Mr 
Philips, '  to  deliver  you  such  a  discourse  when  I  entered. 
I  came  only  to  advise  you  to  walk  before  it  becomes 
too  warm.  Sarah  must  show  you  some  of  my  improve- 
ments, Helen.  I  would  go  with  you  myself,  but  I  am 
obliged  to  be  absent  on  business  today.' 

The  girls  prepared  for  their  walk,  and  having  made 
the  tour  prescribed  by  Mr  Philips,  were  on  their  return, 
when  Matty  exclaimed,  '  Sarah,  there 's  Frederick 
Hammond  !  I  wonder  when  he  came  back. — I  declare 
if  he  is  not  turning  down  the  other  road  just  to  avoid 
us.  I  am  sure  I  don't  see  why  he  need  be  angry  with 
us,  because  he  and  Jasper  have  quarrelled.' 

*  I  don't  suppose  he  is  angry  ;'  replied  Sarah  ;  {  per- 
haps he  avoids  us  only  because  he  feels  awkwardly  at 
meeting  us.' 

'Who  is  he  ?'  asked  Helen. 

1  He  is  the  son  of  a  gentleman  who  lives  in  the  vil- 
lage,' replied  Sarah.  '  About  a  year  ago  he  and  Jas- 
per went  to  school  together.  At  first  they  were  great 
friends,  for  he  is  a  very  pleasant  boy ;  but  they  quar- 
relled about  some  foolish   matter.     Jasper  thought  he 


20 


had  been  treated  ill,  and  I  suppose  Frederick  thought 
the  same.  Father  was  very  sorry  for  it,  because  he 
has  a  great  respect  for  Mr  Hammond.  He  tried  to 
induce  Jasper  to  be  friends  again,  but  he  could  not  suc- 
ceed ;  and  then  he  said,  as  a  forced  reconciliation  wa§ 
no  reconciliation  at  all,  he  would  not  meddle  any  farther 
with  it.  Frederick  has  been  absent  for  some  months, 
and  I  suppose  has  just  returned,  for  I  have  not  seen 
him  before.  We  were  sorry  enough  for  this  business, 
for  we  all  liked  Frederick.' 

1  For  my  part,'  said  Matty,  '  I  don't  see  how  any  one 
can  be  angry  so  long ;  I  should  forget  what  I  was  angry 
about.' 

The  morning  passed  quickly ;  and  after  a  cheerful 
dinner,  as  they  were  seated  round  the  table,  the  door 
opened,  and  a  decent  looking  man  with  his  hat  in  his 
hand  presented  himself.  '  Your  servant,  ma'am ;'  said 
he,  with  an  Irish  accent, — 8  I  'm  a  British  soldier  ;  and 
you  see  being  short  of  cash  like,  I  should  be  greatly 
obliged  to  you  for  a  meal  of  victuals.' 

There  was  a  manly,  frank  reliance  on  her  hospitality, 
mingled  with  an  air  of  respect,  that  pleased  Mrs  Philips, 
and  she  rose  to  give  orders  for  his  refreshment ;  making 
at  the  same  time,  the  usual  inquiries  as  to  where  he 
came  from,  and  whither  he  was  going. 

'  Why,  indeed  ma'am,  as  to  that,'  he  replied,  '  I  am 
jist  from  Canada,  me  and  two  lads  out  there  under  the 


21 


trees.  We  've  been  discharged  by  the  king ;  and  being 
that  we  've  all  got  good  trades,  we  're  minded  to  see 
what  luck  we  '11  get  in  the  States.  And  we  have  n't 
all  the  world  of  money,  ma'am,  as  you  may  know ;  so  I 
made  bold  to  stop.  The  boys  though,  out  yonder, 
were  rather  backward  like — but  no  wonder — they  're 
young  and  bashful  you  know — but  I  am  fortytwo  year 
old  come  next  St  Patrick's,  and  indeed  I'll  never 
starve  while  I  have  a  tongue  in  my  head.' 

Mrs  Philips  commended  his  resolution,  and  telling 
him  to  follow  her,  conducted  him  to  the  kitchen,  where 
she  directed  the  cook,  a  negro  woman,  to  give  him  the 
remains  of  their  late  dinner,  which  he  proposed  to  take 
out  and  share  with  his  companions. 

Dinah  produced  it,  but  was  somewhat  embarrassed 
how  to  dispose  of  it  according  to  her  notions  of  pro- 
priety, in  the  handkerchief  which  he  spread  out  to 
receive  it. 

'  I  can't,  missess,'  said  she,  '  put  veal,  and  peas,  and 
salad,  all  into  such  a  thing  as  that.' 

c  Lord  love  you  !'  said  he,  l  you  need'nt  stand  about 
that.  I'm  not  dilicate.  Didn't  our  regiment  eat 
seventy  of  their  own  horses  in  Spain  ?  and  do  you  think 
we  '11  mind  a  trifle  the  like  of  this  ?' 

An  eater  of  horse-flesh,  Dinah  thought,  was  not  to  be 
disputed  on  such  a  point ;  she  no  longer,  therefore, 
opposed  the  unseemly  proceeding. 


22  the  childben's  week. 

4  And  now  my  honey,'  said  he,  *  can  ye  not  jist  give 
us  a  little  cider  ?  faith,  and  if  you  will,  we  '11  drink  your 
health  in  it — and  that 's  a  good  offer  to  one  of  your 
complexion.' 

Dinah  overawed  by  the  good  humored  daring  of 
the  man,  did  not  resent  this  allusion,  and  promptly  fur- 
nished the  liquor. 

4  That's  a  kind  soul,'  said  he, '  and  it 's  much  I  admire 
your  gentility.' — Then  turning  to  Mrs  Philips,  who, 
amused  with  the  scene  had  not  yet  left  the  room, 
4  indeed  ma'am,'  said  he,  '  when  a  poor  lad  's  been  kilt 
in  the  wars  as  often  as  I  have  been,  he  must  now  and 
then  have  a  drop  of  drink.' 

*  Killed ! '  exclaimed  Dinah,  understanding  him  lite- 
rally. 

With  the  quick  sense  of  the  ludicrous  natural  to  his 
nation,  he  perceived  her  misapprehension,  and  pro- 
ceeded with  a  solemn  earnestness  of  manner,  to  play 
upon  her  credulity. 

4  Indeed,  my  dear,  and  you  may  say  that — kilt  dead ! 
four  times  ! — and  brought  to  life  by  a  galvanic  battery!' 
Then  marching  off  with  his  '  provant,'  he  left  Dinah  in 
the  unpleasant  dilemma  of  not  knowing  if  she  were  im- 
posed on,  or  not. 

In  about  half  an  hour  he  came  back,  bringing  the 
pitcher  with  which  he  had  been  furnished,  and  return- 
ing the  thanks  of  himself  and  his  comrades,  for  their 


the!  children's  week.  23 

repast, — adding  '  And  indeed  ma'am  there  's  nothing  in 
life  so  dull  as  hunger.  Those  poor  fellows  yonder  a 
little  while  ago,  had  not  breath  enough  among  them  to 
fill  a  fife ; — and  now — faith  they  're  singing  away  like 
so  many  nightingales !' 

This  circumstance,  though  apparently  foreign  to  our 
story,  is  nevertheless  remotely  connected  with  some  of 
its  minor  details. — In  the  course  of  the  afternoon  Dinah 
entered  with  a  portentous  face — 

\  Missess,'  said  she,  '  one  of  master's  best  Marseilles 
vests  is  gone.  It  was  on  the  line  just  after  dinner  ;  I 
saw  it  myself,  and  now  I  can't  find  it  anywhere.' 

Although  it  may  appear  beneath  the  dignity  even  of 
domestic  annals,  we  cannot  disguise  that  this  loss  was 
not  deemed  unimportant.  The  explanation  which  oc- 
curred to  Mrs  Philips,  had  already  dimly  gleamed 
athwart  the  not  very  quick  mind  of  Dinah. 

'  I  don't  know  what  missess  thinks,'  said  she,  '  but 
I  '11  be  bound  that  horse-eater  has  got  master's  vest. 
Missess  knows  he  said  he  was  n't  "dilicate"  and  I  guess 
no  more  he  is  n't.' 

Appearances  seemed  indeed  to  warrant  the  conclu- 
sion, and  though  Mrs  Philips  was  sorry  to  think  the 
frank  hearted  soldier  no  better  than  a  thief,  she  was 
compelled  to  admit  the  suspicion  ; — which  was  con- 
firmed on  the  return  of  Mr  Philips,  who  pronounced  the 
fellows  to  be  undoubtedly  deserters,  and  unworthy  of 


24 


confidence.  This  furnished  matter  for  grave  lamentation, 
on  the  deceptions,  by  which  benevolence  was  wasted 
and  charity  finally  repressed  ;  till  in  the  midst  of  them 
Dinah  again  made  her  appearance,  holding  in  her  hand, 
the  missing  garment,  reduced  to  a  deplorable  state. 

■  Missess  was  wrong,'  said  Dinah,  conveniently  for^ 
getting  her  own  confident  assertions,  '  mistress  was 
wrong.  I  have  found  out  the  thief,'  said  she  looking  at 
Hugh,  who  appeared  nearly  as  guilty  as  if  he  were  him- 
self accused  ;  '  and  who  but  mister  Warder  to  be  sure  ! 
There  it  was,  hid  away  in  my  gentleman's  house,  and 
pretty  work  he 's  made  of  it !' 

It  was  indeed  in  an  irreparable  condition,  and  Hugh 
trembled  for  his  favorite  ;  upon  whom  he  rightly  judged 
displeasure  would  fall  with  double  weight,  from  the 
consciousness  of  injustice  to  the  poor  soldier.  But  this 
was  not  all — Dinah  had  still  another  throw  to  cast  at 
Warder,  who  had  always  been  her  especial  annoyance. 
Producing,  therefore,  from  beneath  her  apron,  a  book, 
which  proved  to  be  a  Latin  grammar,  and  which  had 
disappeared,  more  it  must  be  owned  to  the  surprise,  than 
the  regret  of  Hugh, — c  Mister  Warder,  I  guess,'  said 
Dinah,  grinning  at  her  own  wit,  '  likes  grammar  better 
than  master  Hugh.' 

This  being  his  peculiar  property,  Hugh  thought  he 
might  venture  to  take  the  management  of  the  affair  into 
his  own  hands.     He  said,  therefore,  with  a  dignified 


25 


ajr,  that  '  he  should  teach  Warder  better ;'  inwardly 
hoping  that  this  indefinite  threat,  would  protect  him  from 
the  full  measure  of  punishment  due  to  his  misdeeds. 
Mrs  Philips,  however,  did  not  let  him  off  so  easily,  and 
declaring  that  he  was  the  torment  of  the  house,  said  that 
it  was  absolutely  necessary  he  should  be  sent  away. 

Hugh  begged  and  entreated,  promised  to  watch  and 
correct  him,  and  at  length  it  was  compromised  between 
him  and  his  mother,  that  at  present,  his  dog  should  be 
pardoned  ;  but  that  for  the  next  serious  piece  of  roguery 
he  committed,  he  should  positively  be  banished. 

Poor  Hugh  !  he  little  imagined  that  while  he  was 
entering  into  this  contract,  with  all  due  solemnities,  he 
was  virtually  signing  and  sealing  Warder's  dismission. 
The  unlucky  pup,  after  shaking  himself  from  his  after- 
noon's nap,  had  engaged  in  a  game  of  romps  with.Fin- 
nette, — Matty's  handsome,  saucy,  Maltese  cat.  Puss 
withdrew,  and  he  advanced ;  till  chance  befriending 
her,  she  retreated  into  the  sanctuary  of  the  eastern  end 
of  the  piazza.  This  was  reserved  for  some  choice 
plants,  for  the  better  protection  of  which,  a  glazed  par- 
tition had  been  placed.  A  door  in  this  having  been 
left  open,  admitted  the  fugitive.  Here  she  kept  up  a 
running  fight,  now  behind  one  flower  pot,  now  on  top 
of  another  ;  enticing  Warder  further  and  further  within 
the  forbidden  limits.  At  last,  in  the  scuffle  which 
ensued  upon  her  having  boxed  his  ears,  an  action  be 


26  the  children's  week, 

was  rash  enough  to  imitate,  a  beautiful  Tea-rose, 
recently,  and  with  some  difficulty  obtained,  was  demol- 
ished. It  was  not  easy  to  say,  if  the  flourishing  of  her 
tail,  or  the  brandishing  of  his  paw,  had  done  the  mis- 
chief. Finnette,  however,  scampered  off,  and  when 
Mrs  Philips  unexpectedly  appeared,  Warder  was  left 
to  bear  the  blame  alone. 

Hugh  was  instantly  summoned. 

1  This  exceeds  all ! '  said  his  mother,  who,  though 
usually  indulgent  and  amiable,  was,  we  must  confess, 
more  vexed  by  the  accident  than  was  wise.  '  This  is 
beyond  my  patience  ! — my  beautiful  Tea-rose  !  I  would 
not  have  lost  it  for  anything  ! — That  abominable  dog  I 
he  shall  not  remain  here  another  day.* 

It  was  in  vain  for  Hugh  to  allege  that  he  had  encoun- 
tered Finnette  in  her  flight,  with  evident  marks  of 
guilt ; — circumstances  were  too  strong  against  the  poor 
pup,  to  allow  any  weight  to  this  evidence.  The  matter, 
in  short,  was  settled,  and  Warder  '  done  up.'  Orders 
were  given  that  he  should  be  kept  locked  in  his  kennel, 
in  a  remote  part  of  the  premises,  till  it  was  convenient 
to  send  him  to  town ;  to  be  disposed  of  to  the  first  per- 
son who  did  not  wear  Marseilles  vests,  study  Latin,  or 
cultivate  Tea-roses.  Thus  closed  a  day  which  had 
commenced  with  such  joyous  anticipations  !  and  poor 
Hugh  went  to  bed  nearly  heart-broken. 


CHAPTER   III 


O  say  what  is  that  thing  called  light 
Which  I  must  ne'er  enjoy  ? 

What  are  the  blessings  of  the  sight  ? 
0  tell  your  poor  blind  boy ! 

Cibber. 


*  I  am  almost  sorry  to  interrupt  you,'  said  Mrs  Philips, 
entering  Sarah's  room  the  next  morning—'  you  look  so 
busy,  and  so  happy — but  I  have  an  errand  to  Mr  How- 
ell's, and  I  am  not  in  the  humor  for  a  solitary  walk — 
which  of  you  will  accompany  me?' 

1 1  will,  mother,'  said  Matilda,  c  I  love  to  go  there  ; 
and  beside  that,  I  love  to  walk  with  you.' 

1 1  too  would  like  it  very  much,'  said  Sarah, i  if  Helen 
is  so  disposed,' 

'  O  never  fear  me,'  said  Helen,  '  I  am  always  as 
ready  "  to  go"  as  Lady  Lightfoot.' 

4  Then  we  '11  all  go,'  said  Mrs  Philips ; — i  and  now 
the  sooner  we  are  ready  the  better.' 

As  they  commenced  their  walk,  *  I  think  Helen,'  said 
her  aunt,  'you  will  be  sufficiently  pleased  with  the 
family  we  are  going  to  see,  to  pay  for  the  trouble,  were 
it  even  more  than  it  is,' 


28 


f  You  cannot  help  liking  Fanny,'  exclaimed  Matilda, 
'  every  body  likes  her  !' 

\  And  who  is  Fanny  ?'  asked  Helen,  '  I  have  not 
heard  of  her  before.' 

'  Mother,'  said  Matilda,  '  do  you  tell  Helen  about 
Fanny — you  can  do  it  best.' 

'  Her  story  is  very  simple,  and  soon  told,'  said  Mrs 
Philips, — '  but  as  it  is  connected  with  the  Howell's,  I 
must  first  give  you  some  account  of  them.  Mr  Howell 
is  an  honest,  industrious  farmer.  He  has  three  sons,  of 
whom  two,  being  healthy  and  active,  were  trained  to 
hardy  occupations.  William,  the  youngest,  was  from 
infancy  slender  and  sickly ;  and  partly  from  this  cause, 
showed  at  an  early  age  a  thoughtful  turn  of  mind,  which 
led  to  an  earnest  desire  for  instruction.  His  parents, 
though  uncultivated  themselves,  were  gratified  by  the 
intelligence  he  evinced,  and  sent  him  to  school.  There 
he  distinguished  himself,  and  attracted  the  attention  of 
persons  who  were  able  to  appreciate  his  capacity ;  who 
assisted  him  by  the  use  of  books,  and  kindly  encouraged 
his  laudable  efforts.  When  about  thirteen  years  old, 
though  his  health  had  improved,  an  alarming  effect  had 
been  produced  on  his  sight  by  too  close  application. 
The  disease  increased  till  it  terminated  in  a  cataract  on 
both  eyes,  and  he  was  at  once  shut  out  from  the  light 
of  heaven,  and  from  what  he  valued  even  more, — the 
light  of  knowledge.    His  parents,  in  whom  great  expec- 


THE    CHILDREN'S    WEEK.  29 

tations  had  been  excited  by  his  uncommon  progress, 
and  who  had  determined  to  educate  him  liberally, 
though  this  was  only  to  be  done  by  much  privation  to 
themselves,  were  deeply  afflicted.  They  were  advised 
to  resort  to  surgical  aid,  but  this  was  at  first  necessarily 
delayed  by  the  state  of  the  eyes,  and  then  deferred,  from 
the  incredulity  common  to  ignorant  persons, — who  as 
often  expect  too  little,  as  too  much,  from  the  use  of 
means.' 

'  Well,  but  Fanny,  mother' — said  Matty,  <  Fanny — 
you  have  forgotten  her.' 

'  No  indeed  I  have  not,'  replied  Mrs  Philips,  '  I  am 
only  using  the  privilege  of  all  story  tellers, — telling  my 
story  in  my  own  way.  About  a  year  after  William  be- 
came blind,  his  parents  took  into  their  family  a  little 
girl,  who  is  Matty's  heroine — Fanny  Dale.  She  was 
the  child  of  poor  persons,  who  dying,  left  her  destitute, 
and  she  was  bound  to  Mrs  Howell.  In  such  a  family 
there  were  not  to  be  sure,  any  very  nice  distinctions. 
Still  there  was  a  feeling  of  inferiority  on  her  part,  which 
operating  together  with  kind  treatment,  on  a  gentle  and 
affectionate  temper,  rendered  her  not  only  humble  and 
grateful,  but  disinterested  and  devoted.  It  is  this  which 
renders  her  so  pleasing.  The  busy  life  of  a  farmer's 
family,  notwithstanding  the  tenderness  with  which  he 
was  regarded,  left  no  one  at  leisure  to  attend  to  William, 
but  Fanny.  When  she  had  performed  her  appointed 
3* 


30 


duties,  she  would  take  her  knitting  and  sit  beside  him, 
while  the  pity  with  which  he  inspired  her,  softened  the 
tones  of  her  naturally  sweet  voice  to  melody  itself.  She 
seemed  studious  to  be  always  near  him,  as  if  to  lighten 
the  solitude  of  perpetual  darkness.  She  soon  learned 
too,  to  adapt  herself  to  his  nice  perceptions  of  sound. 
If  she  walked  it  was  with  a  light  and  careful  step  ;  in 
closing  a  door,  or  in  moving  a  chair,  she  would  be  sure 
so  to  do  it  as  not  to  offend  his  ear  5  and  in  turning  her 
wheel,  she  contrived  to  make  it  absolutely  musical. — 
She  could  read  tolerably,  and  Mrs  Howell,  though  a 
notable  woman,  willingly  permitted  her  to  employ  some 
portion  of  her  time  in  reading,  for  the  benefit  of  William. 
At  first  her  mistakes  annoyed  him ;  but  the  sweetness 
with  which  she  took  the  rebuke,  even  if  impatiently 
uttered,  and  the  solicitude  with  which  she  endeavored 
to  correct  her  faults  of  pronunciation,  and  emphasis, 
soon  won  him  to  a  kind  endurance  of  them.  While 
thus  ministering  to  his  mind,  her  own  was  developed  ; — 
nor  were  the  moral  uses  of  this  intercourse  less  obvious. 
Her  gentle  and  self-denying  attentions,  while  they  cher- 
ished all  that  was  good  in  herself,  soothed  his  spirit,  and 
reconciled  him  to  his  lot ; — perceiving  too,  that  he  could 
instruct  and  gratify  another,  he  lost  by  degrees  the  acute 
sense  of  his  bereaved  and  dependent  condition. 

Thus  seven  years  passed  on  ;  during  which  William's 
situation  and  character,  rendered  him  an  object  of  much 
'# 


31 


humane  attention.  Every  one  was  happy  to  contribute 
to  his  improvement  and  entertainment;  and  Fanny, 
though  actuated  chiefly  by  the  desire  of  being  useful  to 
him,  was  nevertheless  deriving  benefit  from  whatever 
tended  to  his  advantage.  Nor  was  his  time  passed  only 
in  reference  to  himself;  he  contrived  to  be  more  ser- 
viceable than  you  would  suppose  possible  ;  and  besides 
performing  many  little  domestic  offices,  he  has  for  some 
time  been  an  assistant  to  the  village  schoolmaster — ' 

<  Well,  but  mother,'  said  Matilda,  '  you  don't  tell 
what  I  want — ' 

1 1  am  coming  to  it  as  fast  as  I  can,  Matty,'  replied 
Mrs  Philips — f  you  know  if  Helen  is  not  well  acquainted 
with  the  parties,  she  cannot  feel  much  interested  in  their 
concerns.  The  acquirements  and  amiable  qualities  of 
Fanny,  naturally  attracted  attention  in  her  little  circle  ; 
and  a  thriving  and  respectable  young  man,  a  merchant; 
paid  his  addresses  to  her.  Until  this  period,  she  con- 
sidered herself,  as  having  for  William,  no  other  senti- 
ment than  that  of  an  affectionate  sister  ;  but  when  called 
thus  to  decide  on  an  offer  of  marriage,  she  was  con- 
vinced she  could  love  no  other  person  so  well.  Yet 
she  had  no  reason  to  suppose  that  he  regarded  her  as 
more  than  a  faithful  friend.  The  match  proposed  was 
every  way  eligible, — beyond  what  she  could  have  ex- 
pected ;  and  her  friends  urged  it  strongly.  Even  Wil- 
liam, to  increase  her  perplexity  and  distress,  earnestly 


32  the  children's  week. 

represented  to  her  the  advantages  of  the  connexion. 
After  a  conflict  between  affection  and  pride, — for  even 
in  the  humble  heart  of  Fanny  Dale,  this  universal  prin- 
ciple found  something  to  address  itself  to, — between  her 
renunciation  of  William,  and  a  marriage,  which  would 
save  her  from  dependence,  perhaps  servitude — she  de- 
cided to  remain  as  she  was.  To  quote  her  own  simple, 
but  expressive  language,  when  relating  the  circumstance 
to  me,  "  I  would  rather,"  said  she,  "  be  eyes  and  feet  to 
William,  than  to  have  all  that  money  can  buy."  Her 
reward  was  at  hand.  Like  herself,  happy  in  their 
rational  and  affectionate  intercourse,  the  necessity  of  a 
closer  tie  in  order  to  secure  its  continuance,  had  not 
been  felt  by  William,  till  the  danger  of  losing  her  was 
presented.  But,  though  then  fully  aware  of  the  nature 
of  his  own  attachment,  and  of  her  importance  to  him, 
yet  regarding  it  as  selfish  and  cruel  to  prevent  a  union 
so  much  more  to  her  advantage,  he  generously  sup- 
pressed his  own  feelings.  No  sooner,  however,  had 
her  decision  left  him  at  liberty  to  do  so,  than  he  avowed 
his  affection.' 

5  That  was  indeed  very  generous,'  said  Helen,  *  in 
both  Fanny  and  William.  I  should  not  have  expected 
it  from  persons  of  their  condition.' 

'  It  is  not  condition,  my  dear  Helen,  but  moral  culti- 
vation, which  makes  us  capable  of  virtuous  and  disinter- 
ested actions.     I  am  afraid  you  will  find  that  no  class 


THE    CHILDREN'S    WEES.  $3 

is  so  elevated,  as  to  exclude  the  operation  of  mean  and 
unworthy  motives  |  and  it  is  certain  there  is  none  so 
low,  as  to  be  insensible  of  the  highest*  if  properly  ad- 
dressed to  it.  But  to  return  to  Fanny,  for  I  see  Matty 
is  preparing  another  rebuke  of  my  digressions.  You 
will  readily  believe  that  she  had  now  less  difficulty  in 
making  up  her  mind.  The  consent  of  William's  parents 
was  obtained,  and  their  marriage  would  have  taken 
place  about  this  time,  when  Fanny  completes  her 
eighteenth  year,  but  for  a  circumstance  I  shall  presently 
explain.;  but  which  will  not,  probably,  long  postpone  it/ 

■  Well,'  said  Helen,  '  Fanny  of  course  is  very  happy, 
— but  I  must  say,  that  a  blind  lover  would  have  no  great 
charms  for  me.' 

'  And  do  you  ever  hope  for  any  other  ? '  asked  Mrs- 
Philips,  smiling. 

1  Any  other  !'  repeated  Helen,  surprised,  '  any 
other  !' — then  recollecting  herself — '  O,  I  know  what 
you  mean  now,  aunt ;  blind  to  faults  I  suppose  all  lovers 
are — but — then — ' 

'  You  would  not  have  him  blind  to  beauties  too,  I 
suppose,  Helen.' 

'  Why  no — if  I  must  own  it,  I  do  think,  aunt,  that  it 
would  be  quite  disagreeable  to  have  a  lover  who  did  not 
know  whether  one  had  black  eyes,  or  grey — if  one  were 
dark,  or  fair — danced  well,  or  ill — or — ' 

4  But,  Helen,'  said  Sarah,  '  perhaps  he  would  admire 


34 


the  more  your  knowledge  and  your  goodness,  because 
his  mind  would  be  entirely  occupied  by  these,  instead 
of  your  looks  and  your  accomplishments.' 

*  There  *s  another  consideration  too,*  said  Mrs  Philips, 
1  that,  perhaps,  does  not  occur  to  you.  If  he  were  in- 
sensible to  the  blaze  of  your  beauty,  he  would  be  equally 
so  to  its  decline;  and  neither  age  nor  sickness  could 
render  you  less  lovely. — But  what  will  you  say,  Helen, 
when  I  tell  you,  that  were  Fanny  only  to  consult  her 
Own  feelings,  she  would  prefer  that  William  should 
remain  blind.' 

*  Impossible,  aunt ! — unless  indeed  she  is  not  pretty — ' 
1  She  is  pretty  though,'  replied  Mrs  Philips — '  that  is, 

sufficiently  so  to  be  pleasing.  Her  face  expresses  the 
character  of  her  mind, — delicate,  feminine,  and  intelli- 
gent— and  without  any  overweening  estimate  of  her 
good  looks,  Fanny  has  no  solicitude  on  that  subject,' 

1  What  in  the  world  then,  is  the  reason  of  such  a 
strange  preference  ?'  asked  Helen. 

c  Simply  that  she  might  continue  to  be  to  him  what 
she  is  at  present.  The  care  of  William  is  so  much 
the  object  of  her  life,  that  she  estimates  herself  only  by 
her  importance  to  his  comfort.  J  might  almost  say  that 
she  seems  scarce  conscious  of  a  separate  existence,  and 
fears  to  be  lost  to  herself  when  no  longer  identified  with 
him. — But  Fanny  is  too  rational  not  to  perceive  that 
this  is  a  false  sentiment,    It  is  with  her  but  the  momen- 


the  children's  week.  35 

tary  excess  of  a  mind  of  sensibility.  She  sees  that  it 
would  be  selfishness,  not  generosity,  to  lament  his  in- 
dependence of  her  care  and  tenderness ;  and  with  a 
wiser,  more  virtuous  feeling,  rejoices  for  his  sake,  that 
she  is  to  become  less  important  to  him.' 

'  Is  there  any  probability  then,'  asked  Helen,  in  a 
voice  subdued  by  the  internal  comparison  she  had  been 
making  between  herself  and  Fanny,  '  Is  there  any  pro- 
bability that  he  will  ever  recover  his  sight  ?'  '  It  is  this 
very  thing  that  now  occupies  us,'  replied  Mrs  Philips. 
'  The  case  has  attracted  the  attention  of  your  uncle, 
Dr  Atkinson,  who  during  his  late  studies  abroad  paid 
particular  regard  to  the  diseases  of  the  eye.  He  has 
proffered  his  services  to  perform  an  operation  for  Wil- 
liam, by  which  he  feels  nearly  confident  he  can  restore 
his  sight ;  and  I  this  morning  received  a  note  from  him, 
requesting  me  to  inform  Mr  Howell  he  would  be  here 
for  that  purpose,  this  afternoon.' 

The  mention  of  this  circumstance  diverted  the 
thoughts  of  the  girls  from  the  lovers  to  the  proposed 
operation,  and  Mrs  Philips  had  hardly  satisfied  all  their 
inquiries  upon  this  subject,  before  they  reached  the 
dwelling  of  Mr  Howell.  He  was  absent,  and  finding 
his  wife  occupied  with  household  cares,  they  directed 
their  course  to  the  garden,  where  they  were  told  that 
they  would  see  William.  On  entering  it,  a  girl  below 
the  ordinary  size,  of  a  slight  figure,  approached  them, 


36 


having  in  one  hand  a  watering  pot,  and  in  the  other  a 
garden  trowel.  A  gingham  frock,  an  apron  and  van- 
dyke  as  white  as  snow,  with  a  '  sun-bonnet'  of  the  sim- 
plest fashion  and  materials,  composed  her  dress, — and 
an  exclamation  from  Matty  made  her  known  as  Fanny. 

For  a  moment,  Helen  felt  the  romantic  kind  of  in- 
terest, with  which  the  account  given  by  her  aunt  had 
inspired  her  but  an  instant  before,  cool  down  into  an 
ordinary  curiosity.  But  as  Fanny  respectfully  saluted 
Mrs  Philips,  then  with  an  affectionate  familiarity  re- 
turned the  hearty  '  good  morning  '  of  Sarah  and  Matty, 
and  then  though  with  some  embarrassment  went  through 
an  introduction  to  herself,  Helen  decided  that  take  her 
altogether,— the  smile,  the  blush, — her  pleasant  voice, 
and  neat  little  figure,  her  appearance  was  entirely 
agreeable — an  opinion  confirmed  by  whatever  she  did 
or  said. 

1  Are  you  watering  your  flowers  at  this  hour  of  the 
day,  Fanny  ?'  asked  Mrs  Philips — '  It  is  not  so  good  a 
time  as  the  evening.' 

' 1  know  it  is  not  ma'am  ;'  replied  she — '  I  have  only 
been  watering  some  that  have  been  transplanted.  They 
are  shaded,  and  the  earth  will  not  be  hardened  by  it.' 

1  Where  is  William  ?'  enquired  Matilda,  impatient  to 
introduce  him  to  Helen. 

'  Not  far  off;' — answered  Fanny,  '  there  he  is,  near 
the  altheas,  weeding.' 


37 


%  Weeding  !'  exclaimed  Helen,  c  can  he  be  trusted  to 
do  that  ?' 

£  Yes  indeed,  *  answered  Fanny — c  He  takes  all  the 
care  of  the  garden,  except  what  he  allows  me  to  do  for 
my  own  pleasure.5 

'  But  how  can  he  distinguish  the  weeds  from  other 
things?'  asked  Helen, 

*  He  would  not  make  a  mistake  as  soon  as  I  should,' 
said  Fanny,  smiling  ; — '  indeed  he  often  goes  over  what 
I  think  I  have  made  quite  clean,  and  gathers  weeds 
enough  to  shame  me.' 

By  this  time  William  had  caught  the  sound  of  fa- 
miliar voices,  and  rising  from  a  little  bench  on  which 
lie  had  been  seated,  he  came  forward,  addressing  each 
by  their  name. 

*  And  where  are  Jasper  and  Hugh  ?'  asked  he.  *  I  have 
not,'  he  continued,  using  a  mode  of  speech  not  uncom- 
mon to  the  blind,  c  I  have  not  seen  them  for  some  time.' 

Mrs  Philips  accounted  for  their  absence,  and  added 
that  she  had  just  left  some  books  in  the  house,  which 
Jasper  had  sent  him. 

During  this  conversation  Helen  observed  him  atten- 
tively. The  expression  of  his  face  was  intelligent,  mild 
and  happy  ;  and  the  neatness  of  his  dress  remarkable. 

i  How  finely  your  vegetables  look,  William — '  said 
Mrs  Philips,  '  you  quite  surpass  us — our  garden  is  a 
wilderness  of  weeds  compared  to  yours.' 
4 


38 


1  You  do  not  consider  perhaps,'  said  be  modestly, 
that  yours  is  twice  the  size  of  this,  and  that  the  labor 
bestowed  here,  could  not  have  been  otherwise  applied/ 

1  And  your  bees,  William  ' — '  are  they  as  industrious 
as  their  master?' 

'  Much  more  so,'  said  he.  '  I  hope  to  have  some  fine 
honey  for  you  this  fall.  There  is  one  hive  I  call  yours  ; 
and,'  added  he  playfully,  c  I  have  charged  them  on  no  ac- 
count to  neglect  that,  whatever  be  the  fate  of  the  others. * 

c  Thank  you,  thank  you,  William  ; — honey  from  your 
bees  will  be  sweet  indeed,'  said  Mrs  Philips.  i  Have 
you,'  continued  she,  *  heard  of  a  hive  on  a  new  construc- 
tion, by  which  the  injuries  sustained  from  the  miller  are 
prevented  ?' 

'  No  I  have  not,'  replied  he,  '  and  I  must  be  content 
to  be  in  ignorance  of  many  improvements  by  which  oth- 
ers are  benefited.  But  I  have  some  kind  little  assist- 
ants, who  in  good  measure,  I  imagine,  supply  the  place 
of  what  you  alluded  to.' 

{  Who  are  they  William  ?'  enquired  Sarah. 

'  The  wrens,'  replied  he.  '  They  take  care  of  my 
bees  for  me.' 

'  The  wrens  ! — how  ?  where  ?' 

4  In  the  morning  they  go  the  round  of  the  hives, 
which  are  you  know  open  below.  Here  the  miller 
enters,  and  deposits  its  egg,  and  this  the  wren  discovers 
and  removes  before  any  mischief  is  done.     See,'  said 


39 


he,  turning  to  the  garden  fence,  '  see  the  habitations  I 
have  made  to  induce  them  to  settle  with  me.  I  do  not 
believe  there  is  a  single  house  without  a  tenant.' 

The  girls  looked  as  he  directed,  and  saw  a  number  of 
neat  little  WTen  houses,  perched  on  the  posts  of  the  fence. 

Mrs  Philips  now  delivered  her  brother's  message, 
which  was  received  with  expressions  of  thanks  and  sat- 
isfaction. The  girls  fancied  that  Fanny's  color  varied, 
but  William  turned  the  conversation  from  himself,  by 
proposing  a  view  of  his  flowers.  Of  these  he  had  quite 
a  collection,  to  which  every  visitor  had  contributed 
something.  Nor  was  it  restricted  to  the  common  and 
hardy  plants.  He  had  also  a  number  of  delicate  exot- 
ics, which  compensated  him  in  winter,  for  the  absence 
of  his  summer  favorites.  Among  these,  was  a  fine  Da- 
phne odorata,  that  he  had  reared  with  great  care  and 
patience,  from  a  slip  given  him  by  Sarah, — and  which 
as  much  from  that  association,  as  its  surpassing  fra- 
grance, was  his  especial  pet.  Then  there  was  a  ver- 
bena, and  a  jasmine, — with  geraniums  of  every  variety. 
It  was  affecting  to  observe,  how  his  friends  had  provided 
for  the  gratification  of  a  sense,  of  the  perceptions  of 
which,  they  had  themselves  so  inferior  a  consciousness. 

As  they  approached  the  hives  the  girls  perceived  the 
odor  of  mignionette,  and  remarked  an  unusual  quantity, 
apparently  sown  at  different  times,  to  insure  a  succes- 
sion of  it. 


40 


'  It  is  for  the  bees,'  said  Fanny.  l  It  is  said  to  afford 
the  finest  honey,  and  William  had  a  fancy  to  make  the 
experiment.' 

*  If  your  bees  would  come  to  see  me,  William,'  said 
Sarah,  *  I  would  give  them  miginonette  too,  but  I  sup- 
pose it  is  too  far  for  them.' 

'  Not  so  far  as  they  will  go,  if  in  want  of  provisions,' 
replied  he.  '  Some  persons  have  said  they  will  go  sev- 
eral miles,  though  others  say  not  much  more  than  one.' 

'  I  should  think  it  would  tire  them  dreadfully,'  said 
Matilda,  '  to  fly  so  far,  with  their  little  thighs  so  heavy 
laden.' 

'  I  am  afraid  it  often  does,'  replied  William — 6  besides, 
for  our  own  sakes  we  should  supply  them  within  a  short 
distance  ;  the  time  of  such  productive  little  laborers  ought 
not  to  be  wasted  in  looking  for  materials.  Those  who 
enter  largely  into  the  cultivation  of  bees,  understand 
this,  and  are  at  great  pains  to  keep  them  in  full  employ. 
They  even  transport  them,  hives  and  all,  to  favorable 
situations.' 

'Indeed,'  said  Sarah,  'they  are  so  irritable  and  sus- 
picious, I  should  not  think  that  possible.' 

'  O  yes,'  replied  William,  '  where  there  are  enough 
to  make  it  worth  while,  they  are  removed  like  wander- 
ing tribes  in  search  of  pasture.  In  the  neighborhood  of 
Edinburgh,  there  are  cultivators  of  bees,  who  send  them 
annually  to  the  highlands;  and   in  France  a  similar 


41 


practice  prevails.  An  individual  there,  having  a  manu- 
factory of  wax,  and  who  is  reported  to  have  had  several 
hundred  hives,  was  in  the  habit  of  sending  them  on  long 
journies, — halting  near  fertile  fields,  in  which  the  little 
workmen  were  let  out  during  the  day,  and  at  night  when 
they  retired  to  rest,  were  carried  to  a  fresh  pasture. 

'  I  have  heard  that  in  the  east,  too,'  said  Mrs  Philips, 
4  the  bees  are  great  travellers.  In  lower  Egypt,  the 
inhabitants  of  different  villages,  bring  their  stock  to- 
gether ;  each  hive  is  marked  with  the  name  of  the  own- 
er, and  they  are  then  placed  in  boats,  which  ascend  the 
Nile,  to  meet  the  advancing  season.  They  proceed 
slowly,  stopping  often ;  and  in  this  manner  the  bees, 
gather  the  sweets  of  upper  Egypt.' 

'  O  what  a  beautiful  voyage !'  cried  Sarah,  '  how  1 
should  like  to  go  with  them.' 

<  You  might  however  have  reason  to  regret  it,'  said 
her  mother,  '  for  they  require  to  be  attended  with  greal 
caution.  1  remember  to  have  read  of  an  incident  said 
to  have  occurred  on  the  coast  of  Asia  Minor,  which 
shows  that  they  are  rather  difficult  subjects  to  manage. 
A  hive  was  overset  in  one  of  these  floral  expeditions,  of 
which  William  has  been  telling  you,  and  the  little  voy- 
agers were  so  enraged,  and  so  furiously  attacked  the 
seamen,  that  they  were  obliged  to  leap  overboard,  and 
swim  to  shore  at  the  risk  of  being  drowned. — But 
come,  girls ;  though  you  and  I  might  like  to  pass  the 
4* 


42 

day  here,  William  and  Fanny  have  probably  something 
better  to  do  than  attend  upon  us.' 

William  however  insisted  on  detaining  them  till  he 
had  collected  bouquets  for  each,  which  being  done,  our 
party  resumed  their  walk. 

An  inquiry  from  Mr  Philips  at  dinner  turned  the 
conversation  to  the  visit  of  the  morning,  and  the  situa- 
tion and  acquirements  of  William  Howell. 

c  I  am  not  surprised  at  his  knowing  a  good  deal,'  said 
Helen,  '  because  he  can  get  that,  from  the  books  that 
Fanny  reads  to  him  ;  but  I  cannot  imagine  how  he  can 
do  every  thing  so  neatly  ; — I  am  sure  I  could  not  equal 
it.  with  both  my  eyes. 

1  No,  that  you  could  not,'  said  her  uncle,  '  nor  any  of 
the  rest  of  us  probably.  It  is  proved  by  instances  more 
striking  than  this  of  William,  that  when  blind,  the  re- 
maining senses  are  cultivated  by  necessity  to  a  degree 
of  perfection,  which  we,  who  are  under  no  such  com- 
pulsion, can  not  even  understand.  You  would  be  as- 
tonished at  the  facts  recorded  of  blind  persons,  which 
are  nevertheless  well  attested.' 

4 1  should  think  father,"  said  Matty,  '  that  they  would 
break  their  necks  twenty  times  a  day.' 

'  There  is  good  reason  why  they  should  not  do  it 
twenty  times  a  day,'  said  Mr  Philips,  laughing,'  but  it  is 
certainly  wonderful  that  they  never  do  so  at  all.  It 
is  a  fact  that  they  avoid  dangers  with   an   admirable 


THE    CHILDREN'S    WEEK.  43 

sagacity.  When  walking  they  perceive  by  the  increased 
resistance  of  the  atmosphere,  that  they  approach  bodies 
which  might  present  hurtful  obstructions.  Their  step 
is  firm,  and  cautious  ;  therefore  less  likely  to  be  affected 
by  small  inequalities ;  and  they  observe  and  remember 
with  precision,  such  local  peculiarities  as  may  be  ascer- 
tained by  touch  or  sound.  They  have  been  known  to 
be  the  best  guides  at  night,  through  roads,  uncertain 
from  their  intricacy,  and  even  when  the  ground  was 
covered  with  snow  ; — of  which  an  Englishman  named 
John  Metcalf,  commonly  called  '  blind  Jack,'  was  a  re- 
markable instance.' 

'  Father,'  said  Jasper,  '  I  lately  read  somewhere  of  a 
blind  sculptor.' 

'  Yes,  there  is  one  on  record,  who  made  a  statue  of 
king  Charles  1st.' 

1  O,'  said  Helen,  '  that  is  impossible  !' 

*  Why  no,  Helen,'  said  Richard,  '  it  is  but  the  sense 
of  touch  still — I  can  as  well  believe  that,  as  that  William 
can  make  wren-houses,  and  know  the  weeds  from  the 
flowers  in  his  garden.' 

c  A  more  wonderful  instance  than  that  of  the  sculp- 
tor,' said  Mrs  Atkinson,  '  was  Dr  Moyes — a  native  of 
Scotland,  blind,  I  think  from  infancy,  who  made  great 
attainments  in  natural  history  and  chemistry,  on  which 
he  lectured,  and  even  performed  his  own  experiments 
with  accuracy.    And  what  will  indeed  appear  incredible 


44  the  children's  week. 

to  you  Helen,  he  lectured  on  the  phenomena  of  light 
and  colors ;  of  which  he  had  no  experience,  except  that 
the  rays  when  refracted  through  a  prism,  produced 
sensations  more  or  less  painful  in  his  eye.' 

'  As  how,  grandmamma  ?'  said  Sarah. 

;  The  red  ray  was  the  most  distressing  to  him.  He 
compared  it  to  the  touch  of  a  saw.  The  fainter  colored 
rays  caused  less  pain,  and  the  green  one  was  decidedly 
agreeable.  The  sensation  produced  by  it  he  likened  to 
that  which  he  felt  when  passing  his  hand  over  a  smooth 
surface.  This  was  an  image  by  which  he  expressed 
beauty  also.' 

*  Dr  Blacklock  has,  I  think,'  said  Mr  Philips,  '  from 
a  combination  of  qualities,  been  more  celebrated  than 
any  other  of  this  class  of  persons,  and  gained  the  affec- 
tions of  those  who  knew  him,  as  much  as  he  excited 
their  astonishment.  He,  too,  was  a  Scotchman,  born 
in  1721,  at  Annan,  of  humble  parentage  ;  but  rendered 
by  his  misfortunes,  his  talents,  and  his  virtues,  an  object 
of  interest,  admiration,  and  love.  He  was  blind  from 
six  months  old,  yet  has  been  distinguished  not  only  as 
a  Philosopher  and  Theologian,  but  as  a  Poet  particu- 
larly successful  in  descriptions  of  the  outward  world. 
It  has  been  said  of  him,  "  To  posterity  he  will  seem  a 
fable;  as  to  the  present  age  he  is  a  prodigy."  So 
perfect,  indeed,  was  his  conception  of  visible  objects, 
that  it  has  even  been  supposed  to  have  been  supernatu- 
rally  imparted  to  him.' 


45 


i  Well,'  said  Helen,  '  I  have  done  now, — after  this, 
nothing  can  surprise  me.' 

'  Yes,  Helen,'  said  Jasper,  ■  I  have  one  more  case  to 
tell,  that  will  astonish  you  even  now.  What  do  you 
think  of  a  blind  lady  who  could  distinguish  the  colors  of 
flowers  and  silk  by  the  touch  ?' 

'  Think,'  repeated  Helen,  '  why  that  I  don't  believe 
it. — I  am  not  to  be  quizzed  quite  so  easily,  Mr  Jasper, 
as  you  may  imagine.' 

'  Instead  of  quizzing  you,  Helen,'  said  Mr  Philips, 
1 Jasper  has  not  by  any  means  told  you  all  that  belongs 
to  the  wonderful  case  he  refers  to. — It  is  that  of  a  lady, 
who  lost  at  once,  by  the  small-pox,  her  speech,  her 
hearing,  and  her  sight ; — at  what  age  I  don't  know,  but 
I  infer  from  the  account,  after  she  had  attained  to  years 
of  maturity.  Her  touch  and  smell  became  wonderfully 
perfect,  and  as  Jasper  has  just  told  you,  it  is  asserted 
that  she  could  distinguish  colors.  She  was  also  sensible 
of  the  presence  of  a  stranger.  Though  thus  cut  off, 
apparently,  from  all  communication,  yet  her  friends 
contrived,  by  using  her  fingers,  to  converse  with  her, 
and  she  would  very  readily  in  this  way  receive  their 
ideas.  She  distinguished  individuals  by  their  hands, 
observing  with  the  greatest  accuracy  any  peculiarity 
that  marked  them.  Sometimes  she  would  have  re- 
course to  measurement,  spanning  the  wrist,  or  taking 
the  length  of  the  fingers.     She  wrote  a  fine  hand,  always 


46  the  children's  week. 

preserving  the  regularity  of  the  lines — and  Helen — 
mark  this — if  in  writing,  she  omitted  a  letter,  she  would 
discover  it  herself,  and  by  writing  it  in  the  usual  way, 
, above  the  line,  with  a  caret  beneath,  would  correct  the 
omission.' 

i  O,  uncle  !'  cried  Helen,  with  an  exclamation 
amounting  almost  to  a  scream. 

6  It  does  indeed  nearly  exceed  belief,'  replied  he, 
1  yet  the  case  was  subjected  to  the  scrutiny  and  experi- 
ments of  Sir  Hans  Sloane,  a  celebrated  physician  ;  who 
decided  that  there  was  absolutely  no  imposition.' 

4  In  most  of  the  cases,'  said  Mrs  Atkinson,  s  where 
persons  seem  thus  to  triumph  over  the  disabilities  under 
which  they  are  placed,  there  have  been  the  greatest 
pains  and  attention  bestowed  on  them  by  others.  While 
we  admire  their  attainments,  we  must  render  honor  to 
the  virtue  that  has  been  exercised  in  their  behalf;  and 
above  all",  adore  the  goodness  of  God,  who,  in  appoint- 
ing suffering,  provides  also  its  relief.  We  shall  thus  be 
led  to  discern  the  moral  purposes  of  these  dispensations, 
which  otherwise  might  seem  hard  and  incomprehensible. 
You  see,  too,  by  what  has  been  done,  how  much  may 
be  done.  There  was  a  time  wmen  a  prejudice  prevailed 
against  the  capacities  of  the  blind — ' 

*  That  was  very  cruel,'  exclaimed  Sarah. 

4  It  was  rather  ignorance  than  cruelty,'  replied  Mrs 
Atkinson.    '  Of  this  a  somewhat  striking  instance  occur* 


THE    CHILDREN  S    WEEK.  47 

red  in  the  case  of  Nicholas  Bacon,  a  descendant  of  that 
celebrated  Bacon, — whom  you  may  remember,  that 
when  still  a  child,  queen  Elizabeth  used  to  call  her 
"  little  Lord  Chancellor."  He  lost  his  sight  in  child- 
hood, yet  nevertheless  applied  himself  closely  to  study, 
and  sought  admission  to  the  university,  in  one  of  the 
cities  in  the  Netherlands,  where  he  resided  ;  but  it  was 
refused  on  account  of  his  blindness.  He  obtained  it  at 
length,  though  with  great  difficulty  ;  and  afterwards  put 
his  opposers  to  shame,  by  becoming  one  of  the  most 
respectable  lawyers  of  his  time.' 

'  Perhaps,'  said  Helen,  '  he  may  have  gained  suits 
for  some  of  the  very  persons,  who  would  have  prevented 
his  being  educated.' 

<  It  is  not  improbable,'  replied  Mrs  Atkinson.  *  This 
prejudice  is  now,  however,  removed.  Should  you, 
therefore,  ever  have  a  friend  or  relation  thus  afflicted, 
you  will  remember  that  there  is  encouragement  for 
every  effort,  and  I  need  hardly  remind  you,  that  your 
sympathy  is  due  even  to  a  stranger,  under  such  circum- 
stances. Dr  Blacklock,  though  a  man  of  great  gentle- 
ness, expressed  a  sentiment  on  this  subject,  which 
should  quicken  our  attentions  to  persons,  who,  whatever 
else  they  have  lost,  have  not  lost  their  sensibility  to 
neglect.  "  The  negligence,  or  wantonness,"  he  says, 
"  with  which  the  blind  are  too  frequently  treated,  is  an 
enormity  which  God  alone  has  justice  to  feel,  or  power 


48  the  children's  week. 

to  punish" — Now  Jasper,5  continued  Mrs  Atkinson,  *  I 
have  extracted  my  moral ;  and  as  you  have  listened  so 
patiently,  I  will  detain  you  no  longer.  I  perceive  that 
you  young  folks  have  had  enough  of  rationality  for  the 
present,  and,  that  it  may  not  amount  to  a  surfeit, — I 
advise  you  now  to  take  a  dose  of  frolic  and  nonsense  to 
qualify  it.' 


CHAPTER    IV. 


Bottom, — Are  we  all  met? 

Quince. — Pat,  pat;  and  here  is  a  marvellous  convenient  place 

for  our  rehearsal. 

Shakspearc. 


The  next  day  and  the  succeeding  one,  were  devoted 
to  the  entertainment  of  the  visitors; — walks,  rides,  pros- 
pects, and  curiosities,  in  turn  were  offered.  Nor  was 
it  less  an  object  with  Mr  and  Mrs  Philips  to  render 
their  own  children  happy  than  their  guests.  This  occa- 
sion had  been  anticipated  as  the  recompense  of  their 
good  conduct,  and  their  parents  were  determined  that 
they  should  not  lose  their  reward. — Saturday  had  now 
arrived,  and  so  prodigal  had  they  all  been  of  their  ways 
and  means,  that  with  the  exception  of  Richard  and 
Jasper, — who  as  long  as  a  fish  would,  or  would  not 
bite,  had  a  resource, — the  young  people  seemed  not  to 
have  a  single  pleasure  left  for  the  next  week. — Mrs 
Atkinson,  however,  knew  better.  A  plan  had  occurred 
to  her,  which  while  it  promoted  their  happiness,  would, 
she  thought,  convey  a  lesson  not  entirely  useless ;  and 
she  was  thinking  how  she  should  propose  it  so  as  to  be 
5 


50 


most  attractive,  when  a  lamentation  from  Matty  fur- 
nished her  an  opportunity. 

'  O  dear,'  exclaimed  she,  i  one  week  is  just  gone, 
and  in  one  more  Helen  must  go  too' — what  shall  we  do 
on  Monday,  grandmamma  ?' 

'  I  am  afraid,  Matty,'  replied  Mrs  Atkinson, ( that  you 
are  in  the  sad  case  of  those  who  pursue  pleasure  too 
eagerly ; — you  have  used  up  all  your  enjoyments,  and 
have  now  only  idleness  and  languor  left.' 

'  Never  fear,  Matty,'  said  Hugh,  *  never  fear  ;  I  '11  be 
bound  that  mother,  or  grandmamma  will  contrive  some 
entertainment  for  us.' 

'  I  think  they  've  done  their  part  already,'  said  Sarah. 
1  It  is  a  pity  if  we  cannot  find  our  own  pleasure  for  one 
week.' 

'  Yes  indeed  ;'  said  Mrs  Atkinson,  s  and  if  you  and 
Helen  will  adopt  a  scheme  I  have  in  my  head,  in  which 
I  think  Richard  and  Jasper  may  be  induced  to  join,  we 
will  make  these  little  spendthrifts,  Hugh  and  Matty, 
who  have  so  long  been  consuming  the  labors  of  others, 
work  for  their  own  pleasure. — And  not  only  so,  but  you 
may  all  thereby  be  enabled  to  contribute  to  the  enjoy- 
ment of  others. — You  will,  I  think,  admit  that  we  older 
folks  have  some  claim  on  you  in  this  way ;  besides, 
young  persons  should  learn  that  they  are  bound  to  pay 
their    proportion  towards   the    pleasure   of   domestic 


THE    CHILDREN^    WEEK.  51 

society, — that  they,  too,  must  sometimes  be  the  enter- 
tainers.' 

0  !  if  some  of  our  great  schemers  were  only  as  sure 
of  approbation  and  cooperation  as  Mrs  Atkinson,  how 
the  business  of  improvement  would  go  on  ! — Every  eye 
was  now  turned  to  her ;  and  Jasper  and  Richard  oppor- 
tunely tapping  on  the  window,  and  holding  up  their  fish 
in  triumph,  received  a  summons  to  enter. 

i  Come  in,  come  in,'  cried  Sarah — '  we  are  met  in 
council,  and  we  want  you.' 

The  boys  complied, — and  Mrs  Atkinson  continued. 

1  The  suggestion  I  am  about  to  make,  I  owe  to  one 
of  those  old  books  which  you  know  I  love  so  to  pore 
over.  In  an  account  of  the  first  French  adventurers  to 
this  new  world,  there  is  mention  made  of  a  trait  of  man- 
ners characteristic  of  that  pleasing  people,  who  know  so 
well  how  to  adapt  themselves  to  circumstances,  and  to 
extract  happiness  from  trifles.  About  the  year  1604, 
the  Sieur  de  Monts,  accompanied  by  other  gentlemen, 
came  to  America.  Henry  the  Fourth  had  granted 
him  a  patent,  constituting  him  Lieutenant  General  of 
the  territory,  then  called  "Acadie,"  since,  Nova  Scotia. 
De  Monts  afterwards  returned  to  France,  leaving 
Pontrincourt,  Champlain  and  others,  at  Port  Royal. 
Though  they  were  subjected  to  many  inconveniences 
and  hardships,  they  devised  an  expedient  by  which  the 
winter  was  rendered  not  only  tolerable,  but  agreeable. 


52 


This  was  instituting  among  the  persons  belonging  to  the 
principal  table,  an  order  called  "  Uordre  de  bon  temps." 
Each  took  his  turn  to  be  caterer  and  steward  for  one 
day,  during  which  he  wore  the  collar  of  the  order,  and 
a  napkin,  and  carried  a  staff.  After  supper  he  resigned 
his  offices  and  accoutrements,  accompanied  with  the 
ceremony  of  drinking  a  cup  of  wine,  to  the  next  in  suc- 
cession. The  advantage  of  this  institution  was,  that 
each,  anxious  to  be  prepared  for  his  day,  failed  not  by 
previously  hunting,  or  fishing,  or  purchasing  game  and 
fish  of  the  natives,  to  be  provided.  The  writer,  in  con- 
nexion with  this  fact,  makes  two  remarks  that  are 
worthy  of  remembrance.  One  is,  that  these  gentlemen 
so  conciliated  the  Indians  by  their  manners,  that  they 
had  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  supplies, — by  which  we 
learn  that  courtesy  is  not  thrown  away  even  on  savages ; 
—and  the  other  is,  that  of  the  persons  attached  to  the 
expedition,  which  included  a  large  number,  only  four 
died  during  this  winter, — of  whom  it  was  remarked  that 
they  were  "  sluggish  and  fretful."  ' 

Mrs  Atkinson  paused,  and  her  auditors  looked  for 
further  explanation. 

1  Well,  grandmamma  ?'  said  Hugh. 

■  Now  why,'  resumed  Mrs  Atkinson,  '  should  not  you 
imitate  this  pleasant  example  ?  You  are  not,  indeed, 
obliged  to  contend  with  inclement  seasons,  or  to  supply 
the  common  wants  of  nature ;  but  you  may  make  the 


53 


device  subserve  other  purposes  ; — in  short,  you  too, 
may  have  an  institution  similar  to  "  L'ordre  de  bon 
temps,1  by  which  you  shall  be  bound  to  cater  for  each 
other's  amusement,  and  at  the  same  time  pay  off  some 
of  your  debts  to  father,  mother,  and  grandmother.' 

'  Yes,  yes,'  cried  Helen  and  Sarah,  '  I  see,  I  see,  a 
good  thought ;  we  are  much  obliged  to  you,  grand- 
mamma.' 

Jasper  and  Richard,  however,  exchanged  looks  and 
smiles,  that  seemed  to  indicate  rather  a  dubious  state  of 
mind  on  the  subject.  Whether  they  deemed  them- 
selves too  old,  too  wise,  or  too  happy,  to  require  any 
such  expedient  we  know  not — but  Mrs  Atkinson  prob- 
ably did  ;  for  watching  her  opportunity,  she  hinted  to 
them,  that  as  the  girls  could  not  do  without  their  assist- 
ance, she  was  sure  they  would  be  too  generous  to  refuse 
it.  This  had  the  effect  she  intended,  and  having  once 
admitted  that  they  could  participate  in  the  plan,  the 
boys  became  as  eager  as  the  rest. 

'  Well,  grandmamma,  let  us  understand  exactly  what 
you  mean,'  said  Richard. 

'  You  will  observe,  then,'  said  Mrs  Atkinson,  '  there 
being  just  six  of  you,  that  by  commencing  on  Monday 
next,  you  can  preside  like  good  little  saints  over  the  six 
days  of  the  week ;  and  each  in  your  turn  will  be 
pledged  to  produce  something,  either  for  the  pleasure 
of  yourselves,  or  the  graver  part  of  the  family ; — who 
5* 


54 


will  have  nothing  to  do  but  sit  still  and  be  entertained  at 
your  expense.' 

'  Yes  indeed,'  said  Jasper,  laughing,  '  at  our  expense 
I  fancy  it  will  be  !  what  the  deuce  can  we  do  but  make 
ourselves  ridiculous.' 

'  No  no,'  cried  Helen, '  I  am  not  afraid  of  that — we 
will  not  be  so  easily  discouraged,  Jasper.  But  what 
are  we  to  do,  grandmamma  ?  give  us  some  sort  of 
idea.' 

'  You  may  tell  a  story,'  replied  Mrs  Atkinson,  '  or 
introduce  a  new  game  ; — or  you  may  contrive  some- 
thing from  which  instruction  as  well  as  pleasure  is  to 
result: — anything,  in  short,  which  you  believe  will 
excite  agreeable  and  amiable  feelings.  It  will  not  be 
required  that  you  should  fill  up  the  whole  day  for  us  in 
this  manner — it  is  enough  if  we  are  assured  that  you 
will  each  furnish  your  part  towards  the  sum  of  the 
family  enjoyment.' 

'  I  'm  sure  I  can't  do  anything,'  said  Matty,  mourn- 
fully, '  to  amuse  grown  up  people.' 

'  Nor  I  neither,'  said  Hugh,  in  a  tone  equally  dolo- 
rous. '  I  have  n't  forgot  last  new  year's  day,  when  we 
undertook  to  make  presents  to  father  and  mother  and 
grandmamma,  and  I  gave  father  an  ass  I  had  painted, 
because  I  had  nothing  else — how  you  all  laughed  at 
me.' 

'  That  was  a  great  shame,   dear   Hugh,'  said  Mrs 


55 


Atkinson,  '  I  am  sure  I  did  not  laugh,  for  I  was  sorry 
enough  for  your  mortification.  But  you  must  not  be 
disheartened  ;  I  feel  sure  you  will  succeed  this  time.' 

'  Yes,  but  grandmamma,'  said  Jasper,  '  one  thing 
must  be  insisted  on ;  that  is,  if  we  undertake  this  thing, 
we  shall  do  it  ourselves ; — or  there  will  be  neither 
pleasure  nor  merit  in  it.' 

;  O  you  need  not  fear  any  interference  or  assistance 
from  me  ;  I  have  no  idea  of  troubling  myself  any  fur- 
ther about  it,  than  merely  to  give  you  a  good  plan  ;  if 
you  cannot  work  it  out  yourselves,  you  are  not  worth 
helping.  I  believe  though,'  continued  Mrs  Atkinson, 
observing  the  disconsolate  faces  of  the  two  youngest 
children,  '  I  believe  I  must  help  Hugh  and  Matty — just 
a  little  ' — 

'  Well  then,'  said  Jasper,  '  only  a  little, — and  only 
them  :  the  rest  of  us  must  take  our  chance.' 

'  Now  grandmamma  go  on,  and  tell  us  about  the  par- 
ticulars,' said  Sarah. 

6  First  then,  for  the  insignia  of  the  order — you  must 
have  a  collar  of  course.' 

<  By  all  means,'  said  Richard  ;  '  and  pray  let  it  bear 
the  inscription  "  Uordre,  de  bon  temps  " — I  like  the  od- 
dity of  it.' 

'  But  ought  we  not,'  asked  Sarah,  '  to  have  something 
too,  that  seems  to  belong  to  ourselves — something  ap- 
propriate to  us  V 


56  - — ~— *  — 


1  Certainly,'  said  Mrs  Atkinson,  '  and  this  may  be 
supplied  by  a  star,  appended  to  the  collar,  in  which  by 
the  aid  of  your  fancy  and  your  pencils,  you  may  place 
what  device  you  please.'  |flfl 

Jam 

'  How  long  should  the  collar  be  ?'  asked  Helen,  not 
entirely  indifferent  perhaps  to  the  effect  of  this  new  cos- 
tume. '  How  should  it  be  worn  ?  not  tight  around  the 
throat,  I  hope  ' — 

'  About  the  length,'  said  Mrs  Atkinson,  '  and  worn  in 
the  same  manner  as  you  would  wear  a  chain,  or  riband, 
to  which  was  suspended  an  eye-glass.  It  can  be  so 
managed  as  not  to  be  inappropriate  to  either  sex.' 

'  Then  the  staff — what  sort  of  a  thing  should  that  be  ?' 

'  I  have  thought  of  something  which  will  just  suit  your 
purpose.  You  know  the  pretty  little  silver-tipped  reed 
cane  that  your  uncle  sent  me  when  I  first  became  lame  ; 
I  thought  it  too  slight,  and  put  it  aside — it  will  be  just 
the  thing  for  this  occasion.' 

'  And  the  napkin  ?' 

'That  of  course  is  easily  procured.  The  only  diffi- 
culty will  be  to  get  these  fastidious  boys,  Richard  and 
Jasper,  to  wear  it ;  but  I  am  sure  it  will  cast  a  shade 
upon  their  gallantry  if  they  refuse.' 

'The  boys  smiled,  and  did  not  demur;  but  they 
chose  not  to  commit  themselves  in  the  article  of  the  nap- 
kin. Mrs  Atkinson  however  foreseeing  that  there  might 
be  some  difference  of  opinion  on  this  point,  proposed, 


THE    CHILDREN'S    WEEK.  57 

that  being  after  all  but  an  unimportant  matter,  it  should 
be  omitted  altogether, — which  was  agreed  to. 

1  How  is  the  order  of  succession  to  be  settled,  grand- 
mamma?' asked  Jasper. 

6  By  lot  I  suppose,  will  be  as  good  a  way  as  any — 
and  as  it  is  not  to  be  supposed  .that  guests  know  their 
fare  till  they  are  seated  at  the  table,  so  each  member  of 
our  little  institution  has  the  right  of  preserving  secrecy, 
as  to  the  description  of  pleasure  he  or  she  has  provided 
for  their  friends,  till  the  time  it  is  presented  to  them.' 

1  Now  girls,'  said  Jasper,  '  go  to  work  directly  to  pre- 
pare the  star  and  collar,  or  you  will  never  be  ready  for 
Monday.' 

The  girls  commenced  with  alacrity.  A  blue  ribbon 
was  furnished  by  Mrs  Atkinson,  on  which  they  em- 
broidered the  motto  of  the  order.  The  star  required 
more  thought  and  time  ;  but  at  length, — the  result  of 
their  combined  forces,  Mrs  Atkinson  included, — it  shone 
forth  with  golden  rays,  to  the  admiration  of  all.  The 
centre  of  one  side  was  reserved  for  the  device.  This 
was  a  group  of  laughing  winged  children,  some  sup- 
porting a  basket,  others  holding  over  it  a  slight  drapery, 
which  concealed  its  contents.  On  the  reverse  was  this 
motto, — for  which  they  were  indebted  to  Shakspeare, 

'  It  is  nothing — nothing  in  the  world 

*  Unless  you  can  find  sport  in  our  intents.' 

The  whole  was  compressed  within  a  proper  size,  and 
being  neatly  executed,  was  quite  ornamental, 


58  the  children's  week. 

'  It  is  very  pretty,'  said  Matty,  '  but  I  don't  think  I 
understand  it  yet,  for  all  the  talk  there  's  been  about  it; 
do  grandmother  explain  it  to  me.' 

c  That  I  will  dear — first  these  winged  children  are 
emblematic  of  love — not  saucy  Cupid,  but  love  in  the 
purest  form  in  which  it  is  ever-seen  on  earth; — as  it 
appears  in  innocent  and  affectionate  children.  The 
basket  represents  gifts,  or  service  of  some  description, 
the  veil  thrown  over  it  intimates  the  secrecy  in  which 
you  will  perfect  your  several  plans  ;  and  the  motto,  to 
prevent  disappointment,  forewarns  your  friends  that  they 
must  not  expect  great  things,  but  be  so  good  as  to  value 
your  efforts,  for  the  sake  of  your  good  intention.' 

1  Now  I  understand  it  very  well,  but  T  like  the  veil  the 
best  of  all — how  pleasant  it  will  be  to  have  a  secret  for 
every  day  in  the  week  !' 

'  I  dare  say  !'  said  Mrs  Atkinson,  '  whether  to  keep 
or  to  guess.  Secrets  are  always  a  spur  to  the  pulses  of 
such  little  people  as  you,  Matty.' 

'  But  when  are  father  and  mother  to  know  our  plans  ?' 
asked  Hugh. 

4  This  evening  at  tea  we  will  unfold  the  mighty  pro- 
ject,' replied  his  grandmamma — l  but  now  that  every 
thing  else  is  arranged,  suppose  we  settle  the  order  in 
which  you  are  to  preside  as  contrivers  of  "  merry 
disports." ' 

This  was  done ;  the  lots  were  drawn,  and  Monday  fell 
to  Sarah; — until  which  time  we  will  bid  the  party  farewell. 


CHAPTER    V. 


Come,  quench  your  blushes  ;  and  present  yourself 
That  which  you  are,  mistress  o'  the  feast. 

The  Winter's  Tale. 


The  plan  for  the  coming  week  received  the  hearty- 
concurrence  of  Mr  and  Mrs  Philips.  They  even  ex- 
tended their  approbation  so  far  as  to  decree  that  it 
should  be  a  domestic  Saturnalia ; — that  all  restraints 
should  be  abolished,  and  every  furtherance  granted  to 
the  projects  of  the  young  people.  Hugh,  in  his  heart 
wished  that  the  statute  framed  thus  liberally,  could  be 
so  construed,  as  to  take  in  the  case  of  '  Warder  versus 
Finnette,'  But  as  his  mother,  though  indulgent  in  all 
other  respects,  had  remained  immovable  on  that  point, 
he  deemed  it  most  politic  not  to  revive  the  debate — the 
more  so,  that  by  some  secret  connivance,  Dennis  the 
gardener,  had  on  both  occasions  of  his  going  to  town, 
omitted  to  take  Warder.  Suppressing  his  inclinations 
therefore,  Hugh  consoled  himself  by  frequent  visits  to 
his  poor  imprisoned  friend,  and  by  such  attentions  as 
could  alleviate  his  captivity. 


60 


On  Monday  morning  Sarah  took  her  seat  at  the 
breakfast  table,  the  collar  falling  over  her  fair  neck, 
and  a  few  rays  of  the  star  just  peeping  above  her  belt. 
A  slight  embarrassment  seemed  to  mingle  with  the  sense 
of  her  new  and  responsible  character  ;  and  though  with 
a  tolerably  successful  air,  she  playfully  flourished  her 
staff  of  office  on  entering  the  room,  she  modestly  laid  it 
aside  as  soon  as  she  had,  in  the  prescribed  form, 
asserted  her  honors.  As  soon  as  breakfast  was  over 
she  retreated  ;  and  in  a  few  moments,  Jenny,  a  little 
servant  girl,  entered,  charged  with  notes  to  all  the 
family,  requesting  in  Sarah's  name,  the  favor  of  their 
company  to  tea,  that  afternoon.  Answers  of  acceptance 
were  of  course  returned,  upon  which  Jenny  was  soon 
seen  setting  forth  towards  the  village,  but  as  no  ques- 
tions were  to  be  asked,  or  restraints  imposed,  it  was 
suffered  to  pass  without  remark.  In  like  manner,  when 
Sarah  demanded  a  surrender  of  the  pantry,  and  closet 
keys,  they  were  yielded  without  hesitation,  unaccom- 
panied by  any  ill-timed  inquiries.  We  will  not  ourselves 
be  too  curious.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  during  the  whole 
day,  Sarah  was  observed  to  hold  intimate  intercourse 
with  Dinah  and  Jenny  ;  that  wherever  she  was  seen, 
there  was  a  careful,  and  even  perplexed  expression  on 
her  usually  placid  face,  which  excited  suspicions,  in 
spite  of  the  well-bred  silence  which  the  family  had  im- 
posed on  themselves.     When   seated   at  dinner,  it  wTas 


61 


remarked  that  her  heightened  color,  betrayed  a  nearer 
approach  to  the  fire,  than  she  was  wont  to  make  at  that 
season  ;^an^wice  she  actually  left  the  table  in  pertur- 
bation, fts^Hppaething  had  been  forgotten. 

Mrs   Philipsynotwithstanding  the  license   she   had 
given,  felt  a  little  queerly,  it  must  be  owned,  at  the  idea 
that  Sarah  had  probably  invited  several  guests,  and  that 
the  reputation  of  her  own  housekeeping  might  be  in- 
volved in  this  enterprise.     She  began  to  repent  of  the 
freedom  she  had  permitted,  and  could  scarcely  refrain 
from   a  sly  investigation  as  to  the  actual  state  of  the 
preparations.     To  this  she  was  the  more  tempted,  as 
Jenny,  acting  as  the  agent  of  her  young  mistress,  was 
flying  about  with  a  reckless   activity,  that  boded  no 
good.     The  frequent  rattling  of  China  and  glass,  set 
her  nerves  in  a  flutter  ;  and  once  she  could  with  diffi- 
culty suppress  a  scream,  as  the  little  subaltern  dashed 
through  the  hall  with  an  astral  lamp  in  her  hand. — Mrs 
Philips    was,   however,    upon   honor,    with    both   her 
daughter  and  her  husband,  who,  pleased  to  observe  the 
awakened  energies  of  Sarah,  had  in  reply  to  his  wife's 
hints  at  domestic  loss  and  inconvenience,  the   folly  of 
expecting  too  much  from  such  a  girl,  &c,  &c,  requested 
that  Sarah  might  be  neither  advised  nor  controlled — 
declaring  that  he  would  rather  half  the  china,  glass,  and 
lamps  in  the  house  were  destroyed,  than  that  her  well 
intended  efforts   should   be  repressed.      Mrs   Philips 
6 


62  the  children's  week. 

was,  therefore,  reduced  to  quiet  endurance.  This  is 
saying  a  good  deal,  both  for  her  own  good  temper,  and 
her  regard  to  her  husband's  wishes,  when  we  consider 
that  she  was  of  that  uneasy  generation,  called  careful 
housewives  ;  who,  from  a  habit  of  attending  to  the 
minutiae  of  their  department,  insensibly  acquire  a  belief 
that  no  one  can  do  anything  as  well  as  themselves — 
who,  sometimes,  in  the  convenience  of  the  present  mo- 
ment, overlook  a  principle,  by  which  in  the  end  a 
greater  amount  of  comfort  and  enjoyment  is  obtained. 

Mrs  Atkinson,  on  the  contrary,  who  had  long  since 
exercised  this  unquiet  spirit,  if,  indeed,  she  had  ever 
been  possessed  by  it,  and  who  could  be  happy  even  if 
everything  was  not  in  its  proper  place,  provided  that 
smiles  were  where  they  should  be — enjoyed  the  bustle 
of  Sarah  and  her  operations.  Her  curiosity  was  once, 
it  is  true,  a  little  excited  by  certain  subterranean  pro- 
ceedings, and  by  the  fact  that  Dennis,  slily  smuggled 
into  the  cellar,  was  apparently  advancing  Sarah's  plans 
— but  she  had  no  alarms.  The  time,  however,  was  at 
hand,  when  all  anxiety  and  conjecture  were  to  cease. 

To  the  relief  of  Mrs  Philips,  it  proved  that  Sarah 
had  very  discreetly  invited  only  two  families,  and  those 
their  most  intimate  acquaintances.  The  little  party  was, 
therefore,  of  so  unrestrained  a  character,  as  would  ad- 
mit of  any  explanations  and  apologies — these,  however, 
were  uncalled  for.     The  refreshments  appeared  in  the 


63 


best  time  and  order ;  and  Mrs  Philips,  as  she  beheld 
the  salver  groaning  with  cakes  of  various  kinds,  and 
observed  the  complacency  with  which  Jenny  strained 
every  muscle  in  its  support,  was  utterly  at  a  loss  to 
explain  this  unprecedented  energy  and  capacity,  without 
a  command  or  direction  from  herself.  Her  usual 
sagacity  was  at  fault.  She  forgot  to  take  into  the  account, 
that  Dinah  and  Jenny  were  acting  under  a  new  and 
agreeable  impulse.  Sarah,  too,  with  admirable  atten- 
tion supplied  whatever  was  lacking  on  the  part  of  her 
coadjutors.  If  an  empty  cup  was  forgotten,  or  a  child 
neglected,  a  timely  hint  to  Jenny  corrected  the  inad- 
vertency ;  or  if  the  coffee  betrayed  that  a  hasty  hand 
had  disturbed  it, — she  slipped  out  of  the  room  to  en- 
treat that  Dinah  would  be  more  careful. 

The  evening  passed  cheerfully.  At  the  proper  time, 
the  entrance  of  a  form  of  ice  cream,  explained  the 
mysterious  labors  of  Dennis  ;  and  we  may  be  permitted 
to  doubt,  if  Cheops  himself,  contemplated  his  pyramid, 
with  as  much  satisfaction  as  Sarah  beheld  hers,  in  all  its 
fair  proportions  !  the  most  daring  and  solicitously  at- 
tended labor  of  the  day.  It  would  be  vain  to  attempt 
a  description  of  her  pleasure,  at  the  encomiums  passed 
upon  it ; — it  was,  in  short,  pronounced  a  chef  d'ceuvre  ; 
and  as  soon  as  their  guests  had  retired,  Mr  Philips 
giving  Sarah  an  affectionate  kiss,  thanked  her  for  the 
gratification  she  had  afforded  him. 


64 


1 1  see,  my  daughter,'  said  he,  '  that  the  expression 
of  my  wishes  is  not  lost  upon  you  ;  and  that  however 
your  taste  might  lead  you  to  other  things,  you  will  not 
neglect  more  ordinary  objects  if  duty  require  it.  From 
your  remarkable  success,  too,  on  this  occasion,  I  should 
judge  that  perfection  in  these  arts  will  cost  you  little 
time  ;  for  you  seem,  either  by  intuition,  or  inheritance,5 
said  he,  turning  with  a  smile  to  his  wife,  'to  have  nearly 
attained  it  with  a  single  effort.' 

'O  indeed,  indeed,  I  cannot  take  all  this  praise,'  cried 
Sarah,  '  I  never  could  have  succeeded  unless  Dinah  ' — 

'  Hush,  hush,'  interrupted  Mrs  Atkinson,  'details  are 
superfluous.  We  know  very  well  that  in  this  age  of 
"  Associations  "  nothing  is  effected  without  combination. 
All  we  have  to  do  is  to  admire  the  result.' 

'  Pardon  me,  grandmamma,'  said  Mr  Philips,  '  though 
I  like  the  result,  I  like  Sarah's  ingenuous  disclaimer  still 
better ' — here  take  another  kiss  for  that.' 

Mrs  Philips  in  the  mean  time,  having  had  her  own 
anxieties,  was  not  without  her  peculiar  satisfaction.  In 
addition  to  the  pleasure  with  which  she  observed  the 
success  of  her  daughter,  she  enjoyed  also  the  agreeable 
emotion  produced  by  the  confirmation  of  a  favorite 
opinion — a  sentiment  to  which  females  are  more  sub- 
ject perhaps,  because  their  judgments  are  not  invaria- 
bly received  at  first  with  that  deference  to  which  we 
believe  them  entitled. 


65 


'  You  know,  my  dear,'  said  she  to  her  husband,  with 
an  air  a  little  triumphant,  '  you  know  I  have  always  said 
Sarah  would  learn  these  things  fast  enough  when  neces- 
sary.' 

*  Yes,'  replied  Mr  Philips,  good  humoredly,  '  I  know 
you  have,  and  no  one  is  better  pleased  than  I  am  to  find 
you  were  right.  I  believe,  too,'  he  added  with  a  smile, 
and  an  emphasis  she  readily  understood,  '  we  never 
differed  about  the  matter,  but  as  to  when  it  is  necessary 
to  learn  them.' 


CHAPTER    VI. 


Jest  and  youthful  jollity, 

*     *     * 

With  mask  and  antique  pageantry. 

L'allegro. 


When  the  family  assembled  on  Tuesday  morning, 
Jasper  appeared  as  steward  of  the  day ;  but  having 
finished  his  breakfast,  he  took  off  the  collar,  at  which 
Helen  surprised,  asked  him  what  he  meant. 

c  I  mean,'  replied  he,  that  I  cannot  make  myself  a 
spectacle  to  please  you  girls.  I  will  comply  in  other 
respects,  but  as  to  sporting  this  thing  ! — upon  my  word 
you  must  excuse  me.  The  staff,  I  have  no  objection 
to,'  and  placing  it  under  his  arm  with  a  knowing  beau- 
like air,  he  bowed  to  Helen — '  Your  most  obedient, 
humble  servant  Miss  Helen,  in  all  things — but  the 
collar.' 

'  Uncle/  said  she,  appealing  to  Mr  Philips,  l is  that 
right  ?    It  is  a  breach  of  our  rules — ' 

Then  it  certainly  is  not  right,'  replied  he.  '  Jasper 
should  conform  as  well  as  the  rest.' 

1  There  sir,'  cried  she, ( you  hear  what  uncle  says — ' 


67 

*  Why  father,'  said  Jasper,  in  a  tone  of  remonstrance, 
€  I  am  going  down  to  the  village — ' 

'  That  indeed,'  said  Mr  Philips,  i  alters  the  case. 
We  may  indulge  ourselves  at  home,  and  with  our  inti- 
mates, in  little  devices  to  promote  innocent  amusement ; 
but  we  should  avoid  what  might  be  considered  affecta- 
tion or  a  display  of  superior  refinement.  That  which 
is  harmless,  even  improving,  if  judiciously  managed, 
may  otherwise  become  fantastic,  and  absurd.  Jasper 
is  right,  Helen — you  must  excuse  the  collar.  I  dare 
say  he  will  not  be  the  less  devoted  to  the  interests  of 
the  order,  because  for  a  while  he  lays  aside  its  symbol.' 

Helen  assented,  and  the  matter  was  amicably  settled. 

'And  now  ladies  and  gentlemen,'  said  Jasper,  '  have 
the  goodness  to  expect  nothing  from  me,  till  the  evening, 
when  J  shall  consider  myself  your  devoted.' 

Though  it  was  as  vain  as  impertinent  to  conjecture 
in  what  way  this  was  to  be  manifested,  Helen  could  not 
entirely  suppress  her  curiosity ;  and  more  than  once 
during  the  day,  broke  short  her  song,  or  laid  down  her 
book,  to  wonder  what  were  Jasper's  intentions. 

'  Have  you  any  idea,  Sarah  ?' 

'  No,  not  the  least — I  heard  him  ask  grandmamma  to 
give  him  a  piece  of  black  silk,  about  as  big  as  a  man's 
hat,  and  to  lend  him  her  father's  gold  snuff  box, — but 
what  he  can  want  of  such  things  I  am  sure  I  can't  tell.' 

The  tea  hour  arrived  without  any  discoveries,  when 


68  the  children's  week. 

to  the  surprise,  of  Helen,  Jasper  did  not  appear.  Half 
past  six  came — seven — eight — still  no  Jasper,  nor  signs 
of  any  thing  unusual. 

1  I  really  suspect,'  said  she  to  Sarah,  '  that  he  means 
to  cheat  us ; — he  has  never  entered  very  heartily  into 
our  plan.  Do  tell  us  Richard,  if  you  know  any  thing 
of  Jasper's  manoeuvres  ?' 

'  Not  I  indeed,'  replied  he — I  have  not  been  at  all  in 
his  confidence.' 

'  Hush — hush,'  said  Sarah — f  The  hall  door  opens — 
and  softly  too,  as  if  some  one  entered  slyly.  Do  look 
Matty — that  must  be  Jasper.' 

Matty  followed  by  Hugh  peeped  into  the  hall,  but 
immediately  retreated  with  marks  of  surprise  and 
confusion. 

1  Mother,  mother,'  said  the  former  there 's  a  gentle- 
man and  lady  in  the  entry — ' 

'The  queerest  looking  creatures  too,'  said  Hugh, 
1  that  ever  I  saw  !' 

Mrs  Philips  was  about  to  ring  for  a  servant  to  attend 
the  visitors,  when  the  parlor  door  opened,  and  two  per- 
sons, corresponding  to  the  description  given  by  Matty 
and  Hugh,  entered.  They  were  dressed  in  the  style  of 
'76  ; — the  gentleman  in  a  suit  of  purple  velvet, — with 
an  embroidered  white  satin  vest ;  his  hair  frizzed  and 
powdered,  and  confined  behind  in  a  black  silk  bag, — 
brilliant  buckles  in  his  shoes,  and  a  sword  by  his  side  : 


THE    CHILDREN  S    WEEK. 


69 


the  lady  in  a  rich  brocade, — a  lilac  ground  overspread 
with  flowers  as  large  as  life,  and  of  every  hue.  From 
the  sleeve,  which  terminated  a  little  below  the  elbow, 
hung  immense  ruffles  ;  and  the  bottom  was  festooned  so 
as  to  display  a  yellow  quilted  silk  petticoat.  Her  hair  was 
dressed  over  a  cushion,  and  on  the  top  of  this  was  placed 
a  fantastical  lace"  cap — but  to  the  amusement  of  some, 
and  the  astonishment  of  others,  both  the  lady  and  her 
attendant  wore  black  masks  ! 

A  hum  of  whispers  circulated  through  the  room. 

1  Why  'tis  Jasper  to  be  sure,'  said  Helen  to  Sarah. 

1  Yes,  but  who  can  the  other  be  ?'  replied  Sarah.  The 
maskers  having  made  their  mute  salutation  to  the  elder 
members  of  the  family,  now  directed  their  course  to 
the  girls  ;  Hugh  and  Matty  following  them — at  first 
with  a  respectful  observance,  then  a  half  suppressed 
titter,  till  at  length, — his  mirth  getting  the  better  of  his 
good  manners, — Hugh  laughed  outright.  Upon  this 
the  mute  gentleman  turning  towards  him  with  a  mena- 
cing air,  touched  his  sword,  as  if  on  the  point  .of  chas- 
tising his  impertinence. 

Hugh  though  instinctively  shrinking  at  the  hint  of  cold 
steel,  speedily  recovered,  provoked  by  it  to  even  a  more 
unceremonious  approach  to  the  mysterious  visitor, 

'  Just  as  if  I  didn't  know  you  Jasper  !'  cried  he,  at 
the  same  time  catching  hold  of  the  skirt  of  his  coat. 

(  Begone !'  exclaimed  the  mask,  throwing  himself  into 


70  THE    CHILDREN'S    WEEK. 

a  theatrical  attitude,  "  I'll  make  a  ghost  of  him  that 
stops  me." 

Whether  the  tones  of  the  voice, — evidently  artificial, 
were  alarming,  or  that  the  language  was  portentous,  we 
cannot  say ;  but  certain  it  is,  Hugh  fell  rather  more 
into  the  rear — at  the  same  time  guarding  against  any 
constructions  unfavorable  to  his  courage. 

'  You  needn't  think  I'm  afraid  of  you  sir,  for  all  that,' 
said  he.  1 1  know?  said  he  to  Matty,  who  was  a  little 
doubtful,'  I  know  it  is  Jasper — only  he  looks  so  big  with 
those  clothes  on.  1  wish  Warder  was  here  ;  he'd  find 
him  out  quick  enough.' 

Jenny  had  by  this  time  discovered  that  something  re- 
markable was  going  on  in  the  parlor.  Under  pretence 
of  snuffing  the  candles,  she  had  taken  a  view  of  the 
strangers,  and  then  leaving  the  room  with  her  head  over 
her  shoulder,  had  reported  her  observations  to  Dinah, 
who  forthwith  stationed  herself  near  the  parlor  door. 

4 1  'spose  it's  master  Jasper,'  said  she  to  Matty,  who 
asked  her  opinion,'  for  he  made  me  get  him  a  pair  of 
master's  silk  stockings  to-day,  unbeknown  to  missess — 
but  as  to  that  woman  with  him,  she  looks  just  as  if  she 
had  come  down  out  of  the  picter  up  stairs.' 

The  unknown  gentleman  released  from  the  trouble- 
some interference  of  Hugh,  now  approached  Helen  and 
Sarah,  and  bowed  profoundly. 

*  Permit  me  the  honor,'  said  he,  '  of  introducing  Miss 


71 


Biddy  Bloom,  who  though  a  revolutionary  heroine,  as 
you  may  guess  by  her  appearance,  is  still  a  great  ad- 
mirer of  the  young. — Miss  Biddy,  Miss  Lee — Miss 
Philips,  Miss  Biddy.' 

During  this  ceremony,  conducted  with  much  parade 
of  tone  and  gesture,  the  fair  unknown  curtesied,  fanned 
herself  furiously,  but  did  not  speak. 

'  Pray  did  Miss  Biddy  lose  her  tongue  in  the  revolu- 
tion ?'  asked  Helen,  laughing. 

'  No  indeed, '  replied  the  mask — '  I  am  assured  that 
it  wagged  throughout  the  whole  seven  years  with  the 
greatest  effect ;  and  has  more  than  once,  unaided, 
silenced  a  battery ; — but  her  profound  respect  for  you, 
exceeds  even  her  loquacity. — Be  encouraged  Miss 
Biddy ' — he  continued  in  a  tender  tone,  '  believe  me 
you  have  nothing  to  fear  from  either  of  these  ladies. 
They  are  no  prodigies — ' 

Here  Helen  and  Sarah  were  much  disposed  to  retort 
upon  the  saucy  speaker,  but  their  wit  was  cowed  by  the 
presence  of  the  unknown  mask. 

'  This,'  continued  the  gentleman,  '  is  Mr  Richard 
Lee ;  just  perched  at  college — a  contributor  to  a  colle- 
giate newspaper — writes  verses  and  guesses  enigmas — 
is  what  is  called  a  "  promising  youth  " — Mr  Lee,  Miss 
Biddy.' 

Richard  bowed,  and  Miss  Biddy,  still  speechless, 
extended  her  hand — then,  as  if  abashed  at  her  own  ad- 
vance, withdrew  it,  and  curtesied. 


72  the  children's  week. 

Matty  and  Hugh  were  endeavoring  meanwhile  to  sift 
their  grandmamma,  who  of  course  was  supposed  to  be 
at  the  bottom  of  the  mystery  ;  but  she  protested  so 
seriously  her  ignorance,  that  they  could  not  doubt  it. 

The  gentleman  now  approached  Mrs  Philips,  and 
taking  out  his  snuff-box,  after  tapping  it  lightly,  offered 
it  to  her  with  the  air  of  an  ancient  beau. 

'  There  Jasper  !'  cried  his  mother,  l  your  box  would 
betray  you  if  we  had  doubted  before — now  have  done 
with  your  foolery,  and  tell  us  who  it  is  you  have  brought 
here.' 

"  ;  O  curiosity  !  thy  name  is  woman,'  "  cried  Jasper, 
removing  his  mask,  and  resuming  his  natural  voice ; 
'  even  my  respectable  mother  cannot  resist  thee. — But,' 
said  he  gravely,  and  with  an  air  of  entreaty,  '  will  you 
promise  me,  if  I  inform  you,  that  you  will  forgive  me  ?' 

'  Forgive  you  !  nonsense — there's  nothing  to  forgive.' 

1  Indeed — indeed  you  must  give  me  your  word — 
there  is  more  in  this  than  you  think.' 

Mrs  Philips,  struck  with  the  tone  in  which  this  was 
uttered,  and  naturally  apprehensive,  became  uneasy. 
The  idea  immediately  presented  itself,  that  Jasper  hav- 
ing done  something  wrong,  was  taking  this  way  to  evade 
her  displeasure. — t 

'  Jasper,'  said  she,  '  don't  trifle  with  me — tell  me  at 
once  what  this  means — ' 

1  Well,'  said  he,  with  a  look  not  intended  to  allay  her 


73 


anxiety,  c  well,  if  I  must, — I  must ;'  and  leading  the 
lady  up  to  his  mother,  whose  countenance  exhibited 
an  odd  contrast  to  the  absurd  figures  before  her,  he  at 
the  same  moment  removed  the  mask,  and  revealed 
Frederick  Hammond ! 

This  unexpected  disclosure  produced  a  burst  of 
pleasure.  Mr.  Philips  advancing  to  Frederick,  gave 
him  a  hearty  welcome  ;  and  Mrs  Philips,  while  she 
rebuked  Jasper's  roguery,  acknowledged  that  she  was 
much  more  than  compensated  for  any  fears  he  had 
mischievously  inspired. 

Enquiries  now  poured  forth  from  all  sides. 

f  Where  did  you  get  your  fine  clothes,  Jasper  ?'  said 
Matty. 

1  Your  bag  too  ?'  said  Helen.5 

'  And  your  sword  Jasper  ?'  said  Hugh — '  I  should 
like  to  know  where  you  got  that.' 

c  Mrs  Hammond  furnished  us  with  every  thing,'  re- 
plied he.  You  know  she  has  a  quantity  of  old  fashioned 
gear  that  belonged  to  her  father  and  mother — but  oh 
the  sport  we  had  in  dressing  !     It  almost  killed  me.' 

i  What  put  it  in  your  heads  to  disguise  yourselves  ?' 
asked  Sarah,  aside  to  Jasper. 

1 0  just  to  break  up  the  stiffness  of  the  business,'  said 
he — '  You  may  suppose  Frederick  felt  a  little  queer  as 
well  as   myself,  and  we  thought  the  best  way  was  to 
work  it  into  a  joke.' 
7 


74  the  children's  week. 

Frederick  and  Jasper  had  now  to  undergo  a  thorough 
examination.  They  were  turned  about  and  about ;  and 
Mrs  Atkinson  as  much  amused  as  the  young  folks,  lived 
over  again  the  splendid  times  of  her  youth,  calling 
up  the  long  forgotten  images  of  padusoys,  ducapes, 
negliges,  hoops,  he,  &ic, — till  Frederick  begged  to 
retire  a  moment,  that  he  might  disrobe.  Having  re- 
joined the  circle  in  his  proper  shape,  disencumbered  in 
mind  as  well  as  body,  he  was  able  to  parry  the  jokes 
which  assailed  Miss  Biddy  from  all  quarters  ;  and  to 
contribute  his  share  to  the  merriment  of  the  evening. 

What  can  more  certainly  insure  happiness  than  the 
conquest  over  angry  feelings, — the  sacrifice  of  pride, — 
the  reconciliation  of  friends, — the  approbation  of  those 
we  love !  If  the  spirits  of  our  young  readers  ever  want 
a  cordial,  let  them  try  some  portion  of  this  prescription. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


Nor  some  reproof  yourself  refuse 
From  your  aggriev'd  bow-wow. 


Cowper, 


The  family  were  seated  at  table  on  Wednesday 
morning,  when  Mrs  Philips  in  surprise  enquired 
1  where  's  Hugh  ?' 

She  had  scarcely  spoken  when  the  door  slowly 
opened,  and  with  an  awkward  step,  and  a  countenance 
in  which  bashfulness  and  satisfaction  were  ludicrously 
mingled,  he  appeared,  holding  the  door,  as  if  wanting 
resolution  to  enter. 

'  Come  Hugh,  come  in,'  cried  Jasper — '  why  man, 
you  look  more  like  a  sheep  than  a  boy.' 

This  address  not  increasing  his  confidence,  he  was 
about  to  take  to  his  heels,  when  his  father  said  in  an 
encouraging  tone,  '  come  Hugh,  wear  your  honors  like 
one  who  is  able  to  sustain  them.' 

1  Here  Hugh,'  said  Richard,  making  room  for  him, 
here  is  a  seat  by  me  ;  I  cannot  eat  my  breakfast  if  you 
don't  come.' 


76  the  children's  week. 

This  action,  and  the  good-natured  look  that  accom- 
panied it,  reassured  Hugh,  and  he  approached  the 
table ; — but  Jasper  could  not  refrain  from  another  hit. 

c  Hold  up  your  staff  my  boy  ; — don't  wear  it  between 
your  legs,  as  Ben  Bashful  did  his  sword.' 

Hugh  had  now  however  fairly  made  his  entree,  and 
obeying  Jasper's  directions,  did  indeed  raise  his  staff 
with  a  threatening  gesture,  which  showed  him  both 
willing  and  able  to  use  it  manfully.  But  perceiving  by 
his  mother's  countenance  that  the  time  and  place  were 
unfitting,  he  quietly  seated  himself. 

'  And  what  Hugh  are  we  to  expect  from  you  to-day  ?' 
asked  Mr  Philips. 

1  Nothing  till  after  dinner,  father,'  said  he.  '  Very 
well,'  replied  Mr  Philips,  '  we  shall  then  have  the 
pleasure  of  anticipation  so  much  the  longer.' 

If  there  were  any  conjectures  as  to  the  intentions  of 
Hugh,  they  were  soon  quieted  by  the  occupations  of 
the  morning,  and  he  was  left  to  mature  his  plans  without 
question  or  molestation. — Once  indeed  he  was  arrested 
when  proceeding  in  '  double  quick  time  '  to  his  grand- 
mother's room,  by  an  enquiry  from  his  father,  with 
which  he  would  have  willingly  dispensed. 

'  Hugh,  my  son,  has  Berrian  been  to  mend  the  gar- 
den gate  ?' 

1  No  sir,'  said  Hugh — then  adding  in  some  confusion, 
'I  forgot  to  carry  your  message  to  him.' 


77 


*  I  am  sorry  for  that  Hugh ;  you  must  then  go  imme- 
diately.    I  cannot  suffer  the  garden  to  be  exposed.' 

Hugh  looked  disconcerted.  'Is  it  very  necessary 
father  ?  must  I  go  to-day  V 

t  Why  no,'  replied  Mr  Philips,  reminded  by  Hugh's 
emphasis  of  what  he  had  forgotten*  '  I  will  not  to-day 
interfere  with  any  special  business  you  may  have  on 
your  hands ;  but  as  the  thing  must  not  be  delayed,  I 
will  go  myself.  That  your  forgetfulness  however  may 
not  go  entirely  unrebuked,  come  to  the  parlor,  and  give 
me  your  time  and  attention  a  few  moments. — ' 

t  There,'  said  Mr  Philips,  opening  a  book,  '  read  that 
passage  aloud.  It  is  so  appropriate  that  I  think  you 
cannot  fail  to  make  good  use  of  it.  The  object  of  the 
writer,  a  French  author  of  great  celebrity,  is  to  enforce 
what  you  have  often  heard  from  me,  the  destructive 
consequences  of  inattention,  even  in  small  things.5 

Hugh  took  the  book  and  read  as  follows. 

"  I  remember  being  once  in  the  country  a  witness  to 
the  numberless  minute  losses,  that  neglectful  house- 
keeping entails.  For  the  want  of  a  trumpery  latch,  the 
gate  of  the  poultry  yard  was  forever  open  ;  there  being 
no  means  of  closing  it  externally,  it  was  on  the  swing 
every  time  a  person  went  out ;  and  many  of  the  poul- 
try were  lost  in  consequence.  One  day,  a  fine  young 
porker  made  his  escape  into  the  woods,  and  the  whole 
family,  gardener,  cook,  milk-maid,  Sic,  presently  turn- 


78  the  children's  week. 

ed  out  in  quest  of  the  fugitive.  The  gardener  was  the 
first  to  discover  the  object  of  pursuit,  and  in  leaping  a 
ditch  to  cut  off  his  further  escape,  got  a  sprain  that 
confined  him  to  his  bed  for  the  next  fortnight ;  the  cook 
found  the  linen  burnt,  that  she  had  left  hung  up  before  the 
fire  to  dry ;  and  the  milk  maid,  having  forgotten  in  her 
haste  to  tie  up  the  cattle  properly  in  the  cow-house,  one 
of  the  loose  cows  had  broken  the  leg  of  a  colt  that 
happened  to  be  kept  in  the  same  shed.  The  linen 
burnt,  and  the  gardener's  work  lost  were  worth  full 
twenty  crowns ;  and  the  colt  as  much  more :  so  that 
here  was  a  loss  in  a  few  minutes  of  forty  crowns,  purely 
for  want  of  a  latch,  that  might  have  cost  a  few  sous  at 
the  utmost ;  to  say  nothing  of  the  suffering  of  the  poor 
man,  or  the  anxiety  and  other  troublesome  incidents. 
Similar  neglect  was  the  occasion  of  repeated  disasters 
of  the  same  kind,  and  ultimately  of  the  ruin  of  a  worthy 
family." 

Having  finished,  Hugh  stood  for  a  few  moments  in 
silence  ;  then  turning  to  his  father  said,  '  I  understand 
this  very  well  father,  and  I  do  not  think  I  shall  forget  it ; 
but  I  would  rather  go  to  Mr  Berrian's  myself.' 

'Why?' 

1  Because  it  is  fair.' 

'  I  have  observed,  my  son,  that  "fair"  the  most  ex- 
pressive word  in  a  boy's  vocabulary,  is  seldom  misap- 
plied  by  you  ;    but  I  should   like,  nevertheless,  that 


79 


you  would  explain  yourself  a  little  further  in  this  in- 
stance.' 

*  I  mean,  father,  that  as  I  broke  the  gate,  you  know, 
— and  then,  too,  forgot  to  do  your  message, — it  is  fair 
that  I  should  go,  and  not  you  ;  besides,  then  I  'm  sure  I 
shall  not  be  so  careless  and  forgetful  again  ; — and  that's 
fair  too  ;  because,  though  I  have  given  you  a  great  deal 
of  trouble  about  it,  you  have  been  very  patient  and 
good-natured. — So  I  would  rather  go — only  just  let  me 
speak  to  grandmamma  first.' 

6  Well  Hugh,  I  believe  that  is  best — a  lesson  is  sel- 
dom so  well  remembered  by  little  chaps,  as  when  im- 
pressed by  a  sense  of  personal  inconvenience.' 

Hugh  upon  this  set  off  very  cheerfully,  and  returned 
just  in  time  for  dinner.  As  soon  as  the  cloth  was  re- 
moved he  withdrew,  nor  was  his  absence  observed  till 
the  door  was  thrown  open,  and  in  bounded  Warder  ! 
who  springing  first  on  one,  then  on  another,  made  the 
circuit  of  the  table,  and  then  crouched  in  the  most  im- 
ploring attitude  at  the  feet  of  Mrs  Philips.  At  the  same 
time,  Hugh  followed,  bearing  in  his  arms  a  flower-pot, 
which  he  placed  before  his  mother,  containing  the  iden- 
tical rose,  that  had  proved  such  a  "  root  of  bitterness." — 
It  was  all  the  work  of  a  moment,  and  surprise  prevented 
explanation,  till  Mrs  Philips  perceived  attached  to  the 
collar  of  Warder,  a  paper  addressed  to  herself;  which, 
on  opening,  was  found  to  contain  these  lines. 


80  THE    CHILDREN'S   WEEK. 

<  A  prisoner  at  your  feet,  I  seek 
The  favor  of  this  gracious  week  ; 
And  deem  me  not  too  bold  I  pray, 
For  every  dog  must  have  his  day. 
Ah  !  if  you  would  but  hear  my  case, 
Compassion  would  those  frowns  efface. 
It  is  indeed  both  clear  and  strong, 
And  shows  a  pup  more  wrong'd,  than  wrong. 

•  Refresh'd  by  sleep,  with  nerves  new  strung, 
Ready  for  frolic,  forth  I  sprung. 
Was  it  a  fault  ?  ah  rather  say, 
Girls,  boys,  and  puppies  still  obey 
The  self-same  law. — As  round  I  frisk'd, 
Too  little  caring  what  I  risk'd, 
Finnette  I  spied,  with  eyes  just  clos'd, 
As  if  she  thought,  perhaps,  or  dos'd. 
Now  sometimes  she  so  condescends, 
That  we  are  quite  familiar  friends ; 
And  thinking  rather  long  her  nap, 
I  ventur'd  just  to  give  a  tap. 
But  whew  !    a  fury  now  she  seem'd ; 
Her  kindling  eyes  like  lightnings  gleam'd  : 
Deep  ton'd,  her  rising  passion  shows, 
And  high  her  bristling  back  uprose. 
Then  turning  round,  my  face  she  brush'd, 
And  quickly  up  the  steps  she  rush'd. 


81 


'T  would  rouse  a  grey-beard — why  not  me  ? 

Besides,  if  she  would  make  so  free, 

I  argued  I  might  well  pursue ; 

What 's  more,  I  b'lieve  she  meant  it  too. 

She  fled,  I  follow'd,  till  alas  ! 

The  fatal  bound  I  dar'd  to  pass. 

And  now  within  the  smiling  bower, 

Sacred  to  every  tender  flower, 

The  artful  jade,  like  all  her  sex, 

Born  to  allure,  to  coax,  and  vex, 

(For  cats  or  ladies,  power  they  love, 

As  mice  and  men  too  often  prove,) 

Sees  with  delight  the  deadly  snare 

Around  me  spread.     Now  here,  now  there, 

She  scolds  and  growls  ; — she  plays  and  peeps  ; 

And  such  a  varied  gambol  keeps, 

Till  by  and  by  a  slender  rose, 

Alone  our  meeting  doth  oppose. 

Miss  Puss  now  throws  aside  the  mask, 

She  lifts  her  paw — for  what  1  you  ask  ; 

My  tingling  ears  could  tell  a  tale 

If  tongues  were  given,  that  might  avail 

The  provocation  to  declare, 

And  show  what  victims  puppies  are  ! 

But  worse  than  this — ah  wo  !  that  I 

In  such  a  boxing  match  should  try  ! 

Suffice  that  in  th'  unequal  strife, 

8 


82 


The  precious  rose  was  reft  of  life  ; 
And  buds  and  leaflets  strew  the  field, 
Where  fate  had  doom'd  that  I  should  yield. 
You  came — Puss  fled — and  I  was  lost ! 
But  malice  still  is  often  cross'd. 
Some  gentle  spirit  heard  my  sighs, 
And  lo  !  your  rose  now  meets  your  eyes  ; 
See  !  once  again  it  lifts  its  head, 
Wounded  and  drooping,  but  not  dead. 
Now  freedom  give — and  pardon  say, 
And  I  will  guard  you  night  and  day.' 

'  And  so  I  will,  and  so  you  shall,'  said  Mrs  Philips, 
kindly  patting  Warder's  head,  who,  as  if  understanding 
all  that  passed,  had  kept  his  place. 

Upon  this,  Hugh,  clapping  his  hands  and  flourishing 
his  staff  in  triumph,  shouted  in  ecstacy. — '  You  're  free 
Warder,  you  're  free  !  and   my  own  dog  again  !' 

'  One  word  more,  dear  Hugh,'  said  his  mother  ;  '  you 
have  given  me  that  which  is  even  better  than  pleasure, 
— an  admonition  in  time  to  correct  an  impatient  and 
hasty  conclusion.  I  ought  to  have  examined  more 
carefully  into  the  extent  of  the  injury,  before  I  con- 
demned poor  Warder.  And  even  had  my  flower  per- 
ished, which  some  kind  friend  has  preserved,  it  was  too 
small  a  loss  to  myself,  to  require  so  great  a  sacrifice  on 


83 


your  part — so  if  I  forgive  Warder,  you  must  also  for- 
give me  for  the  pain  I  have  inflicted  on  you.' 

i  O  mother,'  said  Hugh,  '  I  am  sure  I  never  meant' — 

'  No  dear,  I  dare  say  it  was  the  farthest  thing  from 
your  kind  little  heart  to  intend  any  reproach — but  we  will 
say  no  more  about  it,  and  consider  the  matter  settled 
in  the  way  most  agreeable  to  all  parties — now  go  and 
congratulate  your  dog  as  much  as  you  please.' 

Warder  in  the  mean  time  evinced  his  participation 
in  the  joy  of  this  good  understanding,  and  so  shook  his 
tail,  that  if  a  dog's  tail  could  be  shaken  off,  such  would 
inevitably  have  been  the  fate  of  his. 

'  I  am  glad  to  see,'  said  Mr  Philips,  observing  him 
caressing  Mrs  Atkinson,  '  that  Warder  is  making  his 
acknowledgements,  where  most  due ;  for  I  suspect, 
Hugh,  that  if  grandmamma  had  not  availed  herself  of 
her  reserve  in  your  favor,  you  would  have  been  sadly 
puzzled  to  indite  his  petition.' 

'  I  guess  I  should,  indeed  !'  cried  Hugh ;  '  and  I 
fancy  mother's  rose  would  have  been  the  worse  too,  if 
grandmamma  had  not' — 

'  Stop  that  prating,  blabbing  tongue,'  said  Mrs  Atkin- 
son, putting  her  hand  on  his  mouth  ;  '  you  destroy  all 
the  stage  effect  of  my  performances.  Hugh's  explana- 
tory notes,'  continued  she,  laughing,  '  remind  me  of 
Moonshine's  in  the  Clown's  Interlude — "  This  lantern 


84 


is  the  moon — I,  the  man  in  the  moon — this  thornbush 
my  thornbush,  and  this  dog  my  dog."  ' 

1  Or  rather,'  said  Mr  Philips,  '  of  the  sage  precaution 
of  Bottom,  "  let  him  name  his  name,  and  tell  them 
plainly  he  is  Snug  the  joiner."  ' 


CHAPTER   VIII 


E'en  when  we  think  the  prize  our  own, 
At  once  'tis  vanish'd,  lost  and  gone. 

Wilkie. 


On  Thursday  morning,  when  Helen  made  her  ap- 
pearance in  the  parlour,  it  was  observed  that  she  wore 
the  insignia  of  the  order  rather  more  ostentatiously  than 
Sarah  ; — the  staff  was  sustained  with  more  confidence^ 
and  she  seemed  to  feel  all  the  dignity  with  which  she 
was  invested. 

'Why,  Helen,'  exclaimed  Jasper,  with  unwonted 
gallantry,  '  the  staff  in  your  hands  becomes  a  sceptre — 
you  look  as  grand  as  queen  Bess  herself.' 

1  Take  care  then,  sir,  how  you  presume,'  answered 
she. 

'  Well,  Helen,'  said  her  uncle,  after  breakfast — '  I 
know  I  must  not  ask  questions — but  we  wait  your 
orders,  you  see.' 

*  I  have  only  to  say,  uncle,'  replied  she,  '  that  I  hope 
you  will  be  at  home  this  evening,  and  that  you,  and 
aunt,  and  grandmamma  will  meet  us  here  after  tea.' 


86  the  children's  week. 

1  Without  fail,'  said  Mr  Philips — '  therefore,  that  1 
may  be  able  to  devote  my  evening  to  you,  I  shall  lose 
no  time  this  morning.' 

The  boys  obtained  permission  to  invite  Frederick 
Hammond,  and  the  family  soon  separating  to  their  oc- 
cupations, Helen  retired  with  Sarah  to  their  room. — 
There  was  no  note  of  preparation,  except,  that  when 
at  dinner,  an  ink  soil  was  remarked  on  the  usually 
neat  dress  of  Helen,  a  conscious  smile  implied  that  it 
had  some  connexion  with  the  business  of  the  evening. 

As  soon  as  the  tea-things  were  removed,  and  the 
centre  table  arranged,  Helen  placed  upon  it  a  green  silk 
bag,  and  a  small  box.  Perceiving  that  attention  was 
attracted  towards  them,  she  said,  '  remember  our  motto. 
"  It  is  nothing — nothing  in  the  world,"  and  I  am  afraid 
you  will  all  think  so,  when  you  see  it.  I  have,  how- 
ever, done  my  best.' 

'  That  is  all  we  can  ask,  dear,'  said  Mrs  Philips. 
4  What  is  here  ?'  continued  she,  approaching  the  table, 
a  number  of  ivory  alphabets — ' 

1  O  no,  aunt — they  are  only  made  of  card  paper — a 
very  humble  imitation  indeed.  I  have  prepared  them 
for  a  game,  which,  though  I  have  not  the  merit  of  in- 
venting, is  not,  I  believe,  common.' 

'  "  A  game,"  '  said  two  or  three  voices,  c  what  is  it 
called  ?' 


87 


¥  The  name  of  it  in  French,'  replied  Helen,  *  is  "  La 
Lotterie" — it  is  guessing  words  from  certain  letters 
given  to  the  players.' 

'  O,'  said  Matilda,  in  rather  a  disappointed  tone,  '  I 
have  played  that  before.' 

'  And  suppose  you  have,'  said  Sarah,  in  a  gentle  but 
reproving  manner,  '  you  have  not  played  it  with  Helen, 
I  'm  sure.' 

'  I  hope,  Matty,'  said  her  cousin,  '  when  you  hear 
the  rules  of  the  game,  you  will  find  it  something  new. 
Was  your  game  played  with  counters  ?' 

'  No,'  answered  Matty,  a  little  sobered  by  her  breach 
of  politeness. 

1  Well  then,  this  is,  and  that 's  one  difference — here 
are  some,  with  which  grandmamma  has  supplied  me.' 

'  We  are  all  attention,  Helen,'  said  Mr  Philips, 
'  please  to  give  us  our  lesson.' 

'  I  must  refer  to  my  tablet  for  that,'  said  she,  '  where 
luckily  I  wrote  the  rules  when  I  translated  them  from 
the  French.  Now  you  shall  have  them  in  order  ;'  and 
opening  the  tablet  she  read  as  follows. 

1st.  One  of  the  players  takes  the  direction  of  jhe 
Lottery,  and  each  is  director  in  his  turn. 

2d.  No  word  shall  have  less  than  five  letters  in  it. 

3d.  The  Director  chooses  twelve  letters  from  his 
alphabet,  selecting  such  as  enter  into  the  composition  of 
a  number  of  words.     He  then  thinks  of  five  words 


88  the  children's  week. 

which  can  be  formed  of  these  letters.  These  he  notes 
secretly,  with  a  pencil,  placing  before  them  1,  2,  3,  4,  0, 
which  figures  denote  the  lots  attached  to  the  several 
words,  as  number 

1  is  entitled  to  18  fish,  the  highest  prize. 

2  "  12  " 

3  "  8  " 

4  "  6  " 
0  "  0  " 

The  word  preceded  by  0  is  le  lot  perdant,  or  even 
worse  than  a  blank.  It  is  otherwise  called  le  lot  du 
nigaud,  or  the  booby's  lot.' 

1  Booby's  lot !'  exclaimed  Matty, '  what  a  queer  name  !' 

1  You  will  see  why  it  is  called  so  by  and  by,'  said 
Helen — '  but  I  must  go  back  to  my  rules.' 

4th.  All  the  prizes  are  paid  from  the  stock  of  the 
Director. 

5th.  The  words  must  begin  with  different  initials. 

6th.  The  Director,  having  decided  on  his  words, 
makes  known  his  twelve  letters  ;  and  each  player  being 
provided  with  an  alphabet,  places  the  same  before  him. 
The  Director  then  gives  out  the  initials  of  one  of  the 
words,  and  Les  JEdipes, — that  is  the  guessers, — en- 
deavor to  ascertain  what  it  is, — naming  whatever  they 
think  it  to  be. 

7th.  At  each  word  thus  named,  if  it  be  not  the  right 
one,  the  director  must  be  paid  one  fish. 


THE    CHILDREN'S    WEEK.  89 

8th.  After  eight  trials  have  been  made  without  suc- 
cess, the  Director  withdraws  the  word,  and  begins  with 
another.  If  the  word  thus  withdrawn  be  a  prize,  or  un 
lot  gagnant,  the  advantage  is  the  Director's  of  course  ; 
who  must  otherwise  have  paid  the  -amount  attached  to 
it.  But  if  it  be  le  lot  du  nigaud?  he  must  restore  double 
to  each  person  from  whom  he  has  received  anything 
during  the  unsuccessful  search  for  the  word.  If,  on 
the  contrary,  the  word  be  guessed,  and  prove  a  prize, 
the  lucky  person  receives  whatever  has  been  assigned 
to  it ;  but  if  it  turn  out  after  all  his  labor  le  lot  du  ni- 
gaud,  he  not  only  fails  of  a  prize,  but  pays  eight  coun- 
ters to  the  Director.  The  Director  will  perceive  that 
for  his  own  interest,  he  should  never  leave  le  lot  du  ni- 
gaud  to  be  the  last  proposed. 

9th.  If  a  word  be  guessed  at  the  first  attempt,  and  it 
be  a  lot  gagnant,  besides  the  prize  due  to  it,  each 
player  must  pay  the  diviner  a  counter.  But  if  it  be  le 
lot  du  nigaud,  besides  the  eight  counters  he  is  obliged 
to  pay  the  Director,  he  shall  give  one  to  each  person.' 

'  You  see  now  Matty,  I  suppose,'  continued  Helen, 
*  why  it  is  called  the  booby's  lot.' 

'  Yes,  indeed,  that  I  do,'  replied  she  ;  '  I'm  sure  I 
hope  that  I  shall  keep  clear  of  it.' 

The  rules  having  been  read,  and  the  parties  seated, 
they  requested  Helen  to  be  the  Director. 


90  THE    CHILDREN  S    WEEK. 

She  complied,  and  alphabets  and  counters  being  diV 
tributed  to  each  person,  she  chose  N.  H.  C.  E.  L.  O. 
T.  R.  D.  A.  B.  G.  and  announced  her  first  word  as 
commencing  with  H. 

Herald,  Heroical,  Holder,  Heron,  Handle,  Hinge, 
Hoard,  Halberd,  were  unsuccessfully  proposed — her 
word  was  Hegira,  the  second  prize. 

The  lot  was  withdrawn,  and  her  next  word  began 
with  L. 

Larch,  Legion,  Linear,  Lingo,  were  offered  in  vain. 

'Libel?'  said  Mr  Philips. 

'  Right,  uncle — and  you  've  won  the  highest  prize.' 

She  next  announced  O  as  her  initial. 

Organ,  Ordinal,  Orange,  Ocean,  came  in  quick  suc- 
cession . 

'  — O — '  said  Richard,  '  I  can't  think  of  a  single 
word  beginning  with  O — yes,  I  have  it,  Ordeal.' 

s  You  have  it  indeed,  Monsieur  J\igand,'  cried  Helen. 
?  Eight  counters  due  the  Director,    and  it  being  your 

■k 

first  guess,  please  to  pay  one  all  round.' 

'  The  deuce  !'  replied  he,  '  'tis  a  fatal  ordeal  to  me  I 
think.' 

By  and  by  came  Hugh's  turn  ;  but  poor  fellow,  he 
had  made  so  injudicious  a  selection  of  letters,  that  they 
admitted  of  few  combinations,  and  his  three  highest 
prizes  were  guessed  almost  as  soon  as  proposed.  Hop- 
ing to  get  rid  as  quickly  of  the  lot  du  nigaud,  he  put 


91 


that  up,  by  announcing  a  word  beginning  with  P.  But 
here  his  luck  changed.  Letters  that  had  refused  to 
march  under  other  leaders,  flocked  with  marvellous 
good  will  to  the  standard  of  P,  and  the  eight  variations 
were  played  off,  without  drawiug  forth  the  losing  lot. 

i  I  am  sure,'  cried  Hugh,  in  a  tone  of  mortification, 
i  any  body  would  have  thought  that  some  would  guess 
Pistol—' 

'  "  Pistol,"  was  it,'  cried  Jasper,  i  you  've  missed 
fire  this  time  my  little  man.' 

The  game  continued  to  circulate  to  the  amusement 
of  the  parties,  and  the  lookers-on,  until  it  gave  rise  to  a 
special  trial  of  wit  between  Jasper  and  Helen.  Pro- 
voked to  have  been  baffled  by  him  repeatedly,  she  was 
determined  that  this  time  he  should  not  escape,  and 
felt  quite  sure  of  success,  when  he  gave  Z  as  the  initial 
of  his  first  word. 

1  I'm  sure  Jasper,'  said  she,  with  a  complacent  air, 
'  even  you  can't  find  many  words  beginning  with  Z? 

1  Perhaps  not,'  said  he  gravely. 

1  Zodiac  ?'  said  Helen. 

Jasper  cast  his  eye  at  the  letters  she  had  arranged 
before  her,  repeating  Z.  O.  D.  I.  A.  C. — '  pardon  my 
presumption  Miss  Helen,'  said  he,  you  have  not  spelt 
it  right.' 

6  Not  spelt  it  right  ?  that 's  likely  indeed  !' 


92 


'  Likely  or  not  Miss  Helen,  it  is  certainly  true — the 
word  is  spelt  with  a  k.' 

The  point  was  disputed  of  course,  but  an  appeal  to 
Walker  settled  it  in  Jasper's  favor. 

1 1  shall  not  give  up  so  quickly,'  said  Helen — '  I  know 
I  have  seen  it  spelt  without  the  k —  let  us  see  what 
Johnson  says.' 

Johnson  was  also  against  her. 

'Miss  Helen  I  must  trouble  you  further — pay  me  one,' 
said  Jasper,  holding  out  his  hand. 

1  Wrong  too  after  all — well  there,  take  your  pay.  Is 
it  Zephyr  ?' 

'  No — pay  me  another.' 

1  Zealot  ? 

'  No — pay  me  another  —  allowme  to  advise  you  too, 
Miss  Helen,  before  you  guess  again,  to  look  over  your 
letters — I  gave  you  no  T.' 

<  Well,  will  Zealous  then—' 

'  Just  so — and  to  reward  your  zeal,  behold  le  lot  du 
nigaud .'' 

'  That 's  too  bad  !'  cried  Helen. 

In  the  meantime  Frederick,  happy  to  be  restored  to 
an  intercourse  with  his  young  friends,  had  engaged 
Matty  and  Sarah  in  a  by-play  of  their  own.  Matty  had 
guessed  and  guessed,  till  like  a  little  gambler  she  had 
staked  and  lost  her  last  fish. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    WEEK. 


93 


*  Do  Sarah,'  cried  she,  'find  out  Frederick's  word 
for  me, — all  my  counters  are  gone.' 

'  And  your  wits  too,  Matty,'  said  Richard. 

'No  matter  for  that,'  said  she,  good  humoredly, 
4  Sarah  has  enough  for  herself,  and  me  too.'  i  It  begins 
with  F —  you  say ' — said  Sarah — '  F —  F —  let  me 
see  ;  and  is   a  long  word — why  Friendship  ?  is  it  not  ?' 

Frederick  laughed — £  yes  Matty,  you  are  right 
enough,  Sarah  has  found  me  out — ' 

'  I  'm  sure,'  said  Sarah,  '  it  would  have  been  a  shame 
not  to  guess  that,  when  you  gave  it.' 

To  keep  up  the  interest  of  the  game,  Helen  proposed 
that  they  should  try  their  skill  in  French  words.  '  Or 
suppose,'  said  Mr  Philips,  l  that  you  young  gentlemen 
should  enter  the  lists  with  me  in  Latin—-' 

'  No,  no,  father,  I  bar  that,'  answered  Jasper ;  '  no 
Latin  in  vacation.' 

Helen's  proposal  however  was  accepted,  and  an- 
swered her  purpose.  The  Directorship  having  again 
come  to  Jasper,  '  Now,  said  he,  T  must  apprise  you,  that 
I  have  taken  a  liberty  with  the  game.  Instead  of  four 
prizes  I  have  substituted  one  large  one,  and  have  omit- 
ted the  lot  du  nigaud,  inasmuch  as  you  will  all  be  ni- 
gauds  if  you  don't  guess  what  I  give.  Then  instead  of 
one  word,  1  have  three,  which  employs  all  my  letters, 
and  another  besides.  The  three  words  are  connected, 
10 


94 


and  I  give  you  the  initial  of  the  first,  which  is  L  ;  my 
letters  are  E.  H.  N.  E.  E.  L.  J.  E.  L.  O.  L.  A.  L.  I. 

These  were  placed,  displaced,  replaced,  without  any 
satisfactory  result, — and  were  pronounced  the  most  re- 
fractory selection,  that  had  been  made  during  the  whole 
evening, — till  Mr  Philips  detected  the  meaning. 

e  The  modesty  of  "  Lajolie  Helene,'  "  said  he,  '  may 
have  prevented  her  reading  aright  Jasper's  well  intend- 
ed, if  not  very  ingenious  compliment, — but  as  for  the 
rest  of  us,  we  must  take  refuge  in  our  stupidity,  from  the 
charge  of  want  of  gallantry.' 

This  flourish  of  Jasper's  gave  a  new  turn  to  the  play, 
which  was  now  made  a  vehicle  for  good-humored  per- 
sonalities, and  the  evening  concluded  merrily. 

As  they  were  retiring  for  the  night,  '  Thank  you 
Helen ;'  said  Mr  Philips,  '  I  wish  all  lotteries  were  as 
harmless  as  yours — or  that  the  poor  nigauds  who  ad- 
venture in  them,  would  find  some  better  use  for  their 
money.' 


CHAPTER    IX. 


Of  Heaven  ask  virtue,  -wisdom,  health, 
But  never  let  thy  prayer  be  wealth. 


Cotton. 


On  Friday  morning  Richard  appeared  invested  with 
the  honors  and  responsibilities  of  the  order.  As  soon 
as  the  breakfast  was  removed,  he  said  he  had  a  request 
to  make  of  his  grandmother. 

1  You  are  pretty  sure  of  success  with  me,  Richard,5 
said  she,  '  what  is  it  ?' 

1  That  you  will  meet  us  this  afternoon,  in  your 
favorite  wood.' 

1  My  dear  boy,  you  have  asked  almost  the  only  thing 
I  cannot  grant,  although  it  is,  of  all  others,  what  would 
give  me  the  most  pleasure — I  have  not  been  there  since 
my  unfortunate  lameness.' 

1  But  you  can  ride,  you  know,  grandmamma — ' 

*  Only  to  the  entrance,'  replied  Mrs  Atkinson  ;  [  the 
path  into  it,  is  so  rough,  that  I  should  not  dare  walk 
when  I  had  reached  it — though  I  cannot  tell  you,  how 
much  when  I  pass  by  that  wood,  the  favorite  haunt  of 


96 


young  days,  I  do  long  to  take  once  more  a  complete 
girl's  frolic  through  it  —  but  that's  all  over  now.' 

'  Well,  but  you  will  consent  to  ride  to  the  wood,  and 
trust  to  us  to  get  you  further  ?' 

'  Yes,  I  may  safely  promise  that  much,  I  believe.' 

Richard  having  obtained  his  chief  object,  —  his  grand- 
mother's consent,  requested  the  rest  of  the  family  to 
accompany  her.  Four  o'clock  was  the  time  appointed 
for  the  excursion,  and  till  that  time,  he,  with  his  aids, 
Jasper  and  Hugh,  were  seen  passing  to  and  fro,  with 
looks  as  important  as  if  preparing  for  a  general  emigra- 
tion ;  and  with  the  impetuosity  common  to  such  young 
lords  of  creation,  made  known  their  wants. 

'  Aunt,  please  to  let  me  have  two  or  three  baskets,' 
said  Richard. 

'  Mother,  where  can  I  find  some  pieces  of  carpeting  ?' 
said  Jasper — '  Richard  is  in  a  great  hurry,  mother.' 

These  demands  were  no  sooner  complied  with,  than 
another  applicant  appeared. 

'Mother,'  said  Hugh,  in  a  rather  more  reverential 
tone,  '  Richard  and  Jasper  sent  me  for  some  twine — 
won't  you  please  to  give  it  to  me  now,  mother,  for  Jas- 
per said  he  knew  I  'd  be  all  day  getting  it.' 

This  was  scarcely  done,  when  out  of  breath,  back 
came  Jasper,  and  with  one  bound  was  at  Sarah's  door. 

*  Quick,  quick  Sarah, — let  me  in,'  cried  he.  '  What 
in  the  name  of  wonder  do  you  girls  lock  yourselves  in 


THE    CHILDREN'S    WEEK. 


97 


for,  at  this  time  of  day  ?—  Give  us  some  green  riband  ; 
quick  now,  that 's  a  good  girl  —  and  then  run  down 
into  the  garden,  and  cut  me  a  parcel  of  flowers  — 
and  here  —  wait  a  minute  do.  till  I  speak — just  take  this 
basket,  and  get  me  some  tea-cups  and  saucers,  and 
spoons  ;  and  don't  let  mother  or  any  body  see,  I  charge 
you  —  there  now,  don't  stand;  and  — stop,  Sarah,'  he 
continued,  running  after  her,  '  tell  Dinah  when  Hugh 
comes  back,  she  must  give  him  the  tea-kettle.' 

The  bustle  of  the  boys  in  part  defeated  their  purpose, 
and  in  spite  of  their  laborious  efforts  at  concealment,  a 
general  suspicion  prevailed  in  the  house,  of  the  nature 
of  the  intended  entertainment. 

Four  o'clock  came,  and  Richard  presented  himself 
at  the  door,  prepared  to  drive  his  grandmother  to  the 
place  of  rendezvous  ;  while  the  rest  of  the  party  set  off 
on  foot,  followed  by  Warder,  who,  with  perceptions  of 
the  pleasure  of  liberty,  quickened  by  his  late  confine- 
ment, bounded  along,  riotous  with  joy. 

On  reaching  the  wood,  Mrs  Atkinson  found  that  in- 
stead of  the  usual  obstacles  of  stones  and  brushwood, 
by  which  she  had  apprehended  her  further  progress 
would  be  impeded,  the  boys  had  not  only  cleared  away 
every  obstruction,  but  had  turned  the  path  so  as  to  avoid 
a  little  rocky  ascent,  over  which  the  other  route  lay,  and 
had  so  effectually  removed  all  difficulties,  that  she  could 
walk  as  well  as  on  her  own  floor. 
11 


98  the  children's  week. 

*  My  dear  boys,'  said  she,  '  you  have  indeed  taken  a 
great  deal  of  trouble  for  me.' 

'  No  trouble  at  all  grandmamma,'  replied  Jasper,  'tis 
a  shame  we  did  not  do  it  long  ago.' 

1  But  then  you  know  Jasper,'  said  Hugh,  '  that  Rich- 
ard could  not  have  had  the  pleasure  of  contriving  it,  — 
and  that  I  'm  sure  would  have  been  a  pity.' 

On  reaching  the  centre  of  the  wood  another  surprise 
awaited  Mrs  Atkinson.  Taking  advantage  of  a  number 
of  saplings,  which  had  sprung  up  near  to  each  other,  the 
boys,  by  bending  their  branches,  had  formed  a  little 
rustic  temple.  Around  the  limbs,  thus  serving  the  purpose 
of  arches,  they  had  twined  cedar  and  other  evergreens  ; 
wreaths  of  which,  interspersed  with  flowers,  were  also 
hung  in  festoons  around  the  sides.  The  floor  elevated 
a  little  above  the  ground,  was  of  boards  covered  with 
carpeting;  and  benches  contrived  in  the  same  manner, 
were  placed  for  all  but  Mrs  Atkinson,  for  whom  a  more 
^mmodious  seat  was  prepared. 
Whatever  expectations  had  been  formed,  this  sur- 
passed them  all ;  and  the  admiration  of  the  party  suf- 
ficiently rewarded  Richard's  design,  and  the  able  co- 
operation of  Jasper  and  Hugh. 

And  now  began  the  preparations  for  the  refreshment, 
a  part  of  the  entertainment  to  which  the  boys  attached 
quite  as  much  importance  ;  and  in  which  their  awkward 
though   zealous  efforts,  were  not  a  little  amusing.     If 


THE    CHILDREN'S    WEEK.  99 

ignorant  and  mal-adroit  however,  they  showed  as  much 
genius  in  repairing  their  mistakes,  as  others  would  have 
manifested  in  avoiding  them.  When  the  tea-kettle  was 
overset  for  want  of  proper  support,  and  it  was  fearfully 
whispered  that  they  would  be  obliged  to  go  all  the  way 
to  the  house  for  another  supply  of  water,  Jasper  luckily 
recollected  a  little  spring  as  pure  as  the  '  diamond  of 
the  desert,'  within  halfthe  distance  —  and  when  it  was 
discovered  that  Hugh,  the  forgetful  fellow  !  had  omitted 
to  bring  the  fruit  dishes,  Richard  consoled  him  by 
twisting  some  twigs  into  a  form  that  would  answer  the 
purpose  ;  and  lining  them  with  the  leaves  of  the  Walnut 
and  aromatic  Sassafras,  contrived  a  substitute  in  char- 
acter with  the  repast.  In  like  manner  other  embarrass- 
ments, served  rather  to  increase  than  mar  their  pleasure; 
and  when  they  presented  their  guests  with  an  excellent 
dish  of  tea,  good  bread  and  butter,  raspberries  and 
cream,  and  radishes, — the  produce  of  Hugh's  own 
garden  —  it  was  agreed  by  all,  that  there  was  no  dr 
ficiency  in  kind,  quantity,  or  style. 

When  the  repast  was  over,  and  the  young  folks  quietly 
grouped  around  her,  '  you  are  not  aware  my  dea  r 
children,'  said  Mrs  Atkinson,  i  of  the  full  extent  of  the 
enjoyment  you  have  afforded  me  :  in  addition  to  all  the 
rest,  your  selection  of  this  particular  spot,  has  increased 
my  satisfaction.  There  are  associations  connected  with 
it,  which  will  never  cease  to  affect  me,  and  as  I  wish  to 


100  THE    CHILDREN'S    WEEK. 

requite  your  attention  in  some  appropriate  way,  I  am 
half  tempted  to  tell  you  a  little  story  relating  to  it. 
My  only  objection,'  continued  she,  after  a  pause,  '  is, 
that  it  is  all  about  myself — ' 

1  O  that  is  nothing,  grandmamma,'  said  Richard, 
'  you  are  the  heroine  of  the  day,  you  know,  and  every 
thing  should  relate  to  you.' 

'  After  that,  Richard,'  said  Mrs  Atkinson,  '  I  should 
wrong  your  sincerity,  as  much  as  your  courtesy,  were 
I  to  hesitate,  and  therefore  I  shall  begin.  — I  have  no 
desire  on  this  occasion,  to  be  sad  or  sentimental.  As 
boys  have  not  a  vast  deal  of  sympathy  with  such  things, 
I  shall  make  no  unreasonable  demands ;  and  therefore, 
though  in  reverting  to  my  childhood,  and  youth,  such 
feelings  would  be  natural,  I  shall  not  indulge  them,  but 
merely  enlarge  so  far,  as  to  enable  you  to  comprehend 
the  incident  I  am  about  to  relate.  Our  present  resi- 
dence I  believe  you  all  know,  was  my  paternal  mansion. 
Here  I  was  born,  and  here  my  pleasantest  days  have 
been  passed.  If  a  more  distinguished  situation  once 
seemed  designed  for  me,  I  have  long  since  been  satis- 
fied, that  it  would  not  have  been  favorable  to  my  virtue, 
and  of  consequence  not  to  my  happiness  —  rightly  un- 
derstood. My  mother  was  the  only  child  of  a  man  of 
fortune,  who  in  the  final  disposal  of  his  estate,  was  in- 
fluenced by  an  ill-founded  prejudice  he  had  conceived 
against  my  father.     By  the  conditions  of  his  will,  my 


101 


mother  had  only  a  life  estate  in  his  property.  On  her 
death  it  was  to  descend  with  the  name  of  her  father,  to 
her  eldest  son,  except  a  certain  small  amount  to  her 
other  children.  In  failure  of  any  but  female  offspring, 
her  eldest  daughter  was  to  inherit  the  bulk  of  his  large 
estate,  attended  by  a  condition,  that  on  her  fnarriage, 
her  husband  should  take  her  grandfather's  name.  For 
several  years  1  was  the  only  child  of  my  parents,  and  a 
brilliant  destiny  appeared  to  await  me — nor  was  I  in- 
sensible to  it.  Though  my  parents  were  too  wise  and 
virtuous  to  encourage  the  feelings  natural  to  a  girl  of  my 
age  and  situation,  there  were  always  others  ready  enough 
to  do  so  ;  and  from  servants,  inconsiderate  acquain- 
tances, and  my  young  companions,  I  received  many 
impressions  which  no  counsel  could  entirely  correct.  It 
was  not  the  expectation  of  wealth,  as  such,  that  affected 
my  mind  —  avarice  is  not  the  vice  of  the  young.  It  was 
power,  distinction,  indulgence,  —  that  dazzled  my  imag- 
ination. Happily,  however,  there  were  circumstances 
in  my  condition,  which  tended  to  moderate,  if  they  could 
not  overcome  these  feelings.  My  father  was  a  scholar, 
a  man  of  sense,  —  and  what  was  far  better,  a  christian  ; 
and  foreseeing  the  dangers  and  temptations  of  my  situa- 
tion, had  early  devoted  himself  to  my  education,  with  a 
view  to  prepare  me  either  to  bear  a  disappointment,  or 
to  use  my  fortune  worthily.' 
11* 


102 


'  The  first  fifteen  years  of  my  life  were  nearly  spent, 
when  I  was  placed  for  some  months  at  a  boarding 
school,  at  a  distance  from  home  ;  and  shortly  after,  my 
father  was  called  by  business  of  importance  to  Halifax. 
There  he  was  detained  contrary  to  his  expectations, 
until  my  term  of  school  expired  ;  and  I  was  on  the 
point  of  returning  home,  when  I  received  intelligence  of 
the  birth  of  a  brother  !  —  I  will  not  disguise  to  you  how 
great  was  the  shock  which  this  intelligence  gave  me. 
No  advice  or  representation,  had  been  sufficient  to 
counteract  the  illusions  with  which  the  flattery  of  others, 
and  the  desires  of  my  own  heart,  had  surrounded  me — 
nor  was  the  rebuke  of  my  conscience  the  least  of  my 
distresses.  I  felt  that  I  was  foolish,  selfish,  and  un- 
grateful ;  and  this  consciousness  completed  my  misery. 
I  returned  home  before  the  conflict  was  over ;  but  the 
sight  of  the  little  being,  who  had  been  thus  interposed 
between  me  and  my  brightest  visions,  effected  what  my 
own  reasonings  had  failed  to  do — it  touched  the  spring 
of  my  natural  affections,  —  it  softened,  it  subdued  me  ; 
and  though  my  former  feelings  would  indeed  too  often 
recur,  I  had  but  to  look  in  its  sweet  face  to  be  at 
peace.' 

'  The  return  of  my  father  was  daily  looked  for.  We 
received  letters  announcing  his  arrival  at  Boston,  and 
his  intention  to  proceed  thence  by  land,  directing  his 
carriage  to  meet  him  on  a  certain  day,  at  a  house  about 


THE    CHILDREN'S    WEEK.  103 

five  miles  from  here.  The  meeting  with  my  father  was 
now  all  that  I  dreaded.  My  mother  engrossed  with 
her  new  interests,  of  a  temper  tranquil  and  lovely,  and 
not  suspecting  emotions,  of  which  she  was  not  herself 
capable,  had  not  penetrated  my  feelings  —  but  I  knew 
that  my  father  could  read  the  depths  of  my  soul ;  and 
I  trembled  lest  he  should  detect  there,  a  thought  that 
had  escaped  my  own  scrutiny.  I  could  not  endure  the 
idea  of  appearing  weak  or  unworthy  in  his  eyes,  and  I 
faithfully  strove  to  be  all  that  he  would  wish.  The  day 
appointed  arrived.  We  knew  that  the  domestic  intelli- 
gence, so  interesting,  had  not  reached  him  ;  and  as  I 
was  well  assured  that  no  consideration  would  make  him 
unmindful  of  my  concern  in  this  event,  to  spare  him  a 
pang  for  me,  I  resolved  to  be  the  first  to  communicate 
it.  The  carriage  came  to  the  door,  and  I  prepared  to 
meet  him.  He  arrived  at  the  place  appointed  sooner 
than  we  expected,  and  not  finding  the  conveyance, 
impatient  of  delay,  he  set  off  on  foot  by  a  nearer  route. 
As  I  approached  the  skirts  of  this  wood,  around  which 
the  road  made  a  circuit,  I  thought  I  perceived  him  at 
a  distance  through  the  trees.  I  directed  the  coachman 
to  stop,  and  springing  from  the  carriage,  was  in  a  few 
moments  in  his  arms,  not  far  from  the  very  spot  we  now 
occupy. — As  soon  as  I  could  speak,  I  exclaimed, 
"  Papa,  you  have  a  son  !  —  give  me  another  blessing  for 
such  good  tidings  !"  I 


104  THE    CHILDREN'S    WEEK. 

He  looked  at  me  an  instant,  and  I  fearlessly  encoun- 
tered his  eye,  for  I  felt  that  1  could  have  exposed  my 
heart  to  him. 

'  "  I  thank  Heaven  !"  he  said,  tenderly,  "  for  all  its 
mercies,  —  and  most  especially  for  my  noble,  generous 
daughter !"  ' 

'  Oh  !'  continued  Mrs  Atkinson,  with  energy,  '  no 
length  of  time  can  ever  obliterate  the  impression  of 
those  few  words  !  —  They  seemed  to  give  vigor  to  every 
virtuous  purpose,  and  to  place  every  selfish  feeling  in 
its  true  deformity.  From  this  time  my  character 
received  a  new  direction.  My  little  brother  became 
my  occupation  and  delight ;  and  with  a  sentiment 
scarcely  less  than  maternal,  I  watched  over  his  pro- 
gress. In  time  I  was  his  instructer,  and  have  ever  been 
his  confidant  and  friend  ;  —  and  the  wealth  of  the  Indies 
would  not  have  compensated  me  for  his  loss.  On  the 
death  of  my  father,  this  property,  which  he  held  in  his 
own  right,  became  mine.  My  brother  generously 
wished  to  enlarge  my  portion,  but  I  refused  ;  —  I  had 
enough  for  every  rational  purpose.  One  expression  of 
his  affection,  however,  I  could  not  resist ;  it  was  the  gift 
of  this  wood,  which  he  purchased  and  annexed  to  my 
farm.  —  As  the  little  song  says,  "now  my  story's  done" 
—  and  if  while  acknowledging  my  faults,  I  have  at  the 
same  time  impressed  on  you  an  example  of  self-control, 
or  proved  that  the  purest  happiness  springs  from  the 


105 


exercise  of  the  affections,  —  our  little  fete  may  have  a 
good  effect,  more  enduring  than  we  at  first  supposed. 

Mrs  Atkinson  ceased,  and  her  audience  expressed 
their  thanks  with  much  animation,  —  Helen  especially, 
— who,  perhaps,  our  young  readers  may  have  perceived, 
to  be  slightly  infected  with  the  faults,  apt  to  beset  pretty 
girls  of  fourteen ;  but  whose  heart  was  always  open 
to  good  impressions.  The  time  for  their  return  home 
had  now  arrived,  and  the  afternoon's  entertainment 
concluded  with  an  agreeable  consciousness  of  mutual 
obligation. 


CHAPTER    X 


Dear  madam,  think  me  not  to  blame, 

Invisible  the  fairy  came. 

Gay. 


4  Ah,  good  morning,  my  daughter,'  said  Mr  Philips,  as, 
casting  his  eye  around  the  breakfast  table,  he  perceived 
Matty  —  *  I  did  not  see  you  before  ; —  so  you  are  to 
wear  the  cordon  of  honor  to-day —  and  what  are  we  to 
expect  from  such  a  little  lady,  I  pray  ?' 

*  You  shall  see,  father,'  replied  she,  with  a  look  that 
betokened  something  important,  '  you  shall  see,  but  not 
till  eight  o'clock  this  evening.' 

'This  is  Saturday  —  is  it  not?'  said  Mr  Philips — 'well 
Matty,  your  week  of  license  is  almost  over.  I  hope 
you  will  patiently  bear  the  rein,  when  mother  puts  it  on 
again.' 

1  Yes,  indeed,  father,  that  I  will,'  replied  she,  *  or  I 
should  not  deserve  ever  to  be  indulged  again  ;  besides, 
it  would  be  very  ungenerous  to  mother,  after  she  has 
been  so  good.'  ) 


107 


6  That 's  a  just  sentiment,  Matty,'  said  Mr  Philips, 
1  and  I  really  believe  more  operative  with  you,  my  dear 
little  daughter,  than  any  calculations  for  future  pleasure. 
But  you  have  not  yet  told  us  what  is  required  of  us  at 
eight  o'clock  — ' 

6  I  wish  you,  and  mother,'  replied  she,  '  to  meet  us 
in  the  drawing  room.' 

c  You  have  forgotten  grandmamma — ' 

1  Grandmamma  !'  exclaimed  Matty,  surprised — '  why 
father  !  she  is  one  of  us  — ' 

'  So  I  am,  dear,'  said  Mrs  Atkinson,  in  a  pleased, 
affectionate  tone  —  '  so  I  am  ;  and  as  long  as  you  will 
let  me  be  so,  I  shall  not  care  for  any  other  distinction.' 

'  Then,'  said  Matty,  '  I  want  something  more.' 

'  I  dare  say,'  said  her  mother,  —  '  well,  out  with  it.' 

'  I  wish,'  continued  Matty,  '  to  send  to  the  village  to 
ask  Mr  Robertson  —  you  know  he  is  my  particular 
friend.' 

'  I  have  no  objection,'  replied  Mrs  Philips  —  '  Mr 
Robertson  is  good  natured  enough  to  excuse,  if  he  cannot 
enjoy  your  sport,  whatever  it  may  be  —  any  one  else  ?' 

'  Only  Frederick  Hammond,'  said  Matilda  ;  '  and 
then  as  aunt  and  uncle  Lee  are  to  come  to-day,  and  as 
uncle  Atkinson  said  he  should  probably  come  up  from 
town  to  see  William  Howell,  and  should  stay  the  night 
with  us,  we' shall  have  quite  an  agreeable  party.' 


108  THE    CHILDREN'S    WEEK. 

*  Yes,'  said  her  mother,  '  and  judiciously  arranged  ; 
all  sufficiently  interested  to  accept  kindly  your  efforts 
for  their  entertainment.' 

What  these  were  to  be,  remained  of  course  a  pro- 
found mystery.  It  was  only  observed  that  grandmoth- 
er's door  was  closed  against  all  but  Matty,  —  an  exclu- 
sion too  remarkable  not  to  excite  attention,  and  which 
would,  on  any  other  occasion,  have  been  quite  intoler- 
able. Once  or  twice,  too,  a  murmur  was  heard  from 
within,  as  if  Matty  were  conning  her  lessons.  But 
although  she' was  never  known  to  neglect  these  in  their 
proper  season,  she  was  not  supposed  to  have  a  taste  for 
a  work  so  supererogatory,  as  devotion  to  study  at  such  a 
time, —  and  the  fact  remained  unaccounted  for. 

Favorable  answers  from  their  friends  in  the  village, 
and  the  arrival  of  Mr  and  Mrs  Lee,  and  Dr  Atkinson, 
confirmed  Matty's  hopes  of  a  '  successful  evening.' 

'  At  eight  o'clock  all  were  assembled  in  the  place 
appointed,  with  the  exception  of  Matty  herself.  —  Some 
time  elapsed,  —  still  she  did  not  appear.  The  younger 
part  of  the  company  began  to  speculate  on  this  delay, 
and  Mrs  Atkinson  too,  cast  an  anxious  look  to  a  side 
door,  as  if  expecting  some  one  to  enter  from  that  quar- 
ter. At  length  it  was  cautiously  opened,  and  Matty, 
with  a  smiling  face,  but  a  timid,  irresolute  air,  entered. 
The  collar,  as  usual,  was  suspended  from  her  neck,  but 
the  staff  seemed  to  have  undergone  a  fantastic  trans- 


109 


formation.  Entwined  with  flowers,  it  bore  on  the  upper 
end  a  little  bag,  apparently  of  silver  net-work,  which 
glittered  as  the  wand  fell  from  side  to  side  in  Matty's 
uncertain  grasp.  Reassured  at  length  by  the  kind 
glances  bent  on  her,  and  still  more,  perhaps,  by  a 
whisper  from  her  grandmother,  she  raised  it  with  more 
confidence,  and  advancing  into  the  centre  of  the  room, 
addressed  the  company  in  the  following  lines. 

Lo  here  I  am  —  a  little  thing! 
And  yet  no  common  charge  I  bring. 
List,  gentle  friends,  while  I  declare 
A  fact  you. '11  deem  beyond  compare. 
You  know  that  well  I  love  to  play, 
When  glows  the  fervent  summer  day, 
Beneath  the  shade  of  spreading  tree, 
Or  wheresoe'er  the  breezes  be. 
Now  yester  morn,  my  lessons  done, 
My  custom'd  rambles  I  'd  begun  ; 
When  on  a  sudden,  forth  there  flew 
A  butterfly  of  brilliant  hue. 
Eager  to  view  it  nearer  still, 
To  catch  it  now  I  tried  my  skill. 
But  all  in  vain  —  it  came,  it  went  ; 
Now  here,  now  there ;  till  almost  spent 
I  should  have  yielded,  had  it  not 
Within  §ie  garden  snugly  got ; 
And  on  a  bed  of  violets  basking, 
12 


110  THE    CHILDREN'S    WEEK. 

Seem'd  to  be  further  chase  still  asking. 

With  bonnet  spread  and  heart  elate, 

I  slyly  crept  where  thus  it  sate  ; 

Then  darting,  deern'd  1  'd  caught  the  prize; 

When  to  my  dazzled,  wond'ring  eyes, 

Straightway  it  chang'd  a  tiny  sprite, 

The  which,  if  I  could  guess  aright, 

Should  be  the  fairy  queen  herself. 

Nor  marvel  that  I  knew  the  elf; 

For  grandma'  often  had  before 

Described  her  to  me  o'er  and  o'er. 

I  cannot  as  I  would,  declare,. 

Her  garb,  so  delicate  and  rare, 

Because  it  puzzled  all  my  thought^ 

That  those  same  wings,  which  late  I  sought.. 

Were  now  transformed,  and  o'er  her  head 

A  little  parasol  outspread  ! 

To  shade  her,  when  in  sunny  hour 

She  dar'd  to  leave  her  fairy  bower. 

And  as  I  wondered,  on  my  ear 

Fell  accents  wild,  but  sweet  and  clear.. 

'  Approach  not,'  seem'd  the  voice  to  say„ 

c  But  listen  to  the  fairy's  lay. 

And  think  it  not  some  idle  sport 

That  wins  me  from  my  elfin  court ; 

Or  makes  me  thus  adventurous  roam. 

Where  mortal  eyes  may  prying  come.. 

I  seek  an  embassy  to  send  ; 


THE    CHILDREN'S    WEEK.  1 1  ! 

You,  though  a  child,  can  comprehend 

Its  import.  —  Once,  such  aid  had  I 

In  by-gone  days,  scarce  deign'd  to  try. 

But  since  the  world  has  grown  so  wise, 

JVe  are  just  nothing,  in  its  eyes. 

Imagination  —  our  domain, 

Is  under  Reason's  sober  reign ; 

And  e'en  the  very  children  now, 

Are  so  well  skill'd  in  "  loliy  7"  and  a  howV 

That  every  spell  is  turn'd  aside, 

Because  those  tests  must  be  applied. 

In  times  of  old,  e'en  kings  implor'd 

Our  favors  on  their  offspring  pour'd. 

But  parents  now  are  so  uplifted, 

They  think  that  every  child  is  gifted  ! 

And  all  the  world  is  so  conceited, 

That  we  with  cold  neglect  are  treated. 

Still,  though  contemn'd,  and  useless  grown, 

We  would  be  meddling  I  must  own. 

♦Some  favorites  yet  I  fain  would  bless., 

With  such  poor  gifts  as  I  possess  ; 

But  these  are  little  worth  you  know, 

Since  fairy-stock  is  down  so  low. 

<jo  then,  and  ask  of  mortal  mould, 

To  send  me  of  their  earthly  gold. 

That  potent  good,  which  more  they  prize, 

Than  all  my  failing  realm  supplies. 

And  if  obiain'd,  you  then  shall  know 


112  THE    CHILDREN'S    WEEK. 

On  whom  the  same  I  would  bestow.' 

She  ceas'd,  and  srail'd,  then  quickly  rung 

The  lily  at  her  belt  that  hung, 

(The  same,  whose  tiny  bells  doth  call 

Attendance  in  her  moon-lit  hall  ;) 

But  doubtful  of  its  feeble  sound, 

She  cast  a  hurried  glance  around ; 

Then  rais'd  her  woodbine  horn,  and  blew 

A  bugle  blast  so  shrill  and  true, 

That  forth  from  every  flower  and  blade, 

Her  fairy  train  their  entrance  made  ; 

When  melting  all  to  summer  air, 

They  left  me  mute  and  gazing  there. 

I  turn'd,  my  mind  with  thoughts  replete, 

And  found  this  wand  just  at  my  feet. 

These  my  credentials  —  grant  the  boon, 

And  you  shall  know  her  purpose  soon. 

t  Bravo !'  cried  Mr  Robertson,  as  she  concluded, 
'  bravo,  Matty  !'  accompanying  the  exclamation  with  an 
approving  clap  ;  —  an  action  that  gave  an  impulse  to  all 
the  hands  in  the  room,  which  now  rung  with  plaudits. 
These  were  not,  indeed,  due  to  any  extraordinary  grace 
of  recitation  ;  —  that  was  hardly  to  be  expected  ;  but 
were  given  to  the  diligence  with  which  she  had  pre- 
pared herself,  and  the  evident  effort  she  had  made  so 
far  to  control  her  timidity,  as  not  to  disappoint  her 
friends  by  a  failure. 


THE    CHILDREN'S    WEEK.  113 

As  soon  as  the  acclamations  ceased,  '  Here,  Matty,' 
said  Mr  Robertson,  — who  was  always  happy  to  pro- 
mote the  pleasures  of  the  young,  thus  disproving  the 
charges  sometimes  brought  indiscriminately  against  old 
bachelors,  —  *  I  for  one  will  gladly  contribute  to  make 
up  a  purse  for  the  Fairy.  I  have  not  forgotten  my 
early  obligations  to  the  race.  —  There  is  something 
towards  paying  off  my  debt.' 

Inspired  with  new  courage  at  this  success,  Matty  now 
extended  her  wand  to  each  in  turn,  and  the  weight  of 
the  purse   bore  testimony  to  the  liberality  of  the  con- 
tributors.    While  it  was  thus  making  its  round,  Hugh 
was  seen  to  slip  out  of  the  room.     We  hope  he  will  not 
be  suspected  for  a  moment,  of  a  design  to  avoid  his 
proportion  of  the  fairy  tax.     No  indeed  !  —  it  was  to 
provide  himself  for  that  very  purpose,  with  a  certain 
bright  half-dollar,  which  with  singular  prudence  he  had 
not  permitted  himself  to  keep  about  his  person.     This 
was  an  occasion  which  he  thought  warranted  such  an 
expenditure,   and  he    dropped  it  into  the  purse  with 
entire  complacency,  receiving  at  the  same  moment  a 
smile  of  approval  from  Matty,  which  would  have  satis- 
fied any  scruples,  if  such  he  had  felt. 

6  I  hope,'  said  Mr  Philips,  '  that  the  Fairy  has  so  far 
entered  into  the  spirit  of  the  age,  as  to  make  a  rational 
use  of  the  funds  she  is  accumulating.' 
12* 


114  THE    CHILDREN'S    WEEK. 

*  I  cannot  say  about  the  use  being  so  very  rattonalV 
father,'  replied  Matty  —  'but  I  am  sure  that  the 
Fairy  will  give  it  all  back  again  if  her  plan  is  not  ap- 
proved.' 

I  Nothing  certainly  can  be  more  fair  than  that,'  said 
Mr  Lee.  '  It  would  be  well  if  we  could  in  other  cases, 
have  the  same  assurance.' 

Matty  now  approached  Jasper. 

I I  must  confess  Matty,'  said  he,  '  I  have  no  great 
opinion  of  this  fairy  of  yours  —  it  is  against  my  princi- 
ples to  give  to  vagrants  —  besides  her  story  don't  hold 
well  together ;  I  do  not  see  how  she  comes  to  be  so 
very  poor,  for  I  always  understood  that  fairy  gold  had 
no  end  —  ;T  is  a  suspicious  business,'  he  added,  shaking 
his  head,  with  the  air  of  a  substantial  citizen  rejecting 
a  petition. 

'  Perhaps  she  has  "  failed  for  her  expenses,"  '  said 
Richard. 

'  That  can't  be,'  said  Frederick,  '  for  by  all  accounts 
fairy  housekeeping  is  not  very  expensive  —  dew-drops 
in  acorn-cups  — ' 

?  With  mushroom-tops  for  tables,'  said  Jasper  — '  and 
all  the  world  knows  that  the  glow-worms  and  fire-flies 
light  them  for  nothing  —  ' 

'  Very  well  boys,  very  well,'  said  Matty,  '  for  all 
your  fine  talk,  you  '11  be  sorry  enough  by  and  by  if  you 
do  not  give  the  fairy  something.' 


THE    CHILDREN'S    WEEK.  115 

'01  suppose  there  's  no  escape,'  said  Jasper,  '  but 
really  I  don't  know  how  I  am  to  do  it,  unless  I  go  beg- 
ging myself — Helen  can  you  lend  me/ 

I  cannot  indeed,  for  1  have  no  more  than  I  intend  to 
give.' 

'  Well,  Sarah,  then,'  continued  Jasper  — '  she  is  a 
perfect  Miss  Primrose  —  she  has  always  money  in  her 
pocket  — ' 

1  Not  because  you  don't  try  to  get  it  out,'  said  Mrs 
Philips. 

'  There,  I  can  spare  you  that  much,'  said  Sarah. 

*  Which,  as  we  have  a  running  account  you  know,' 
replied  Jasper,  '  you  may  transfer  to  that.' 

'  I  don't  know  about  that  Jasper,'  answered  Sarah, 
'  your  running  accounts  run  away  with  all  my  money ; 
and  the  last  has  run  so  far,  that  I  shall  never  overtake 
it  —  I  may  as  well  forgive  you  that, —  but  this  you 
shall  pay  me.' 

'  You  are  a  good  girl,  that 's  a  fact,'  replied  Jasper, 
*  and  I  will  pay  you  this,  or  may  all  the  fairies  in  fairy 
land  pinch  me  as  "  blue  as  bilberries."  There  Matty, 
child,  take  that  with  proper  gratitude  — ■  you  little  know 
what  it  costs  your  brother.  But  here  Matty,  listen  a  mo- 
ment— you  must  not  be  too  sharp  with  Richard  and  Fred- 
erick—  boys  are  not  apt  to  have  any  superfluous  cash.' 

e  I  am  obliged  to  you  Jasper,'  said  Richard,  '  but 
luckily  here  is  enough  to  save  my  character.' 


116  THE    CHILDREN'S    WEEK. 

5 1  was  afraid  at  first,'  said  Frederick,  '  that  I  should 
be  compelled  to  pawn  my  pencil-case  for  the  Fairy  ; 
but  I  am  not  quite  so  low  as  that  —  There,  Matty.' 

Having,  to  use  the  common,  but  inelegant  phrase, 
■ taken  up  a  collection,'  Matty  withdrew. 

( 1  can  guess,'  said  Mr  Robertson,  '  with  a  glance  at 
Mrs  Atkinson,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  this  intro- 
duction of  the  fairies  ;  and  glad  I  am  to  see  they  are 
not  quite  forgotten.  It  seems  to  me,  that  the  children 
now-a-days  have  hardly  fair  play  ; —  they  surely  may 
be  reasonable  and  well  educated,  without  clipping  so 
very  close  the  wings  of  Imagination,  as  some  persons 
are  disposed  to  do  —  but,'  added  he,  shrugging  up 
his  shoulders,  'lama  bachelor,  and  of  course  no  judge.' 

4  Perhaps,'  said  Mr  Philips,'  you  are  therefore  the 
better  judge.  We  parents,  are  apt  from  a  sense  of  re- 
sponsibility to  be  over  anxious,  and  to  urge  our  children 
to  a  maturity,  which  time  and  experience  only  can  give. 
Besides,  in  education  as  in  every  thing,  there  is  a  ten- 
dency to  extremes ;  and  in  guarding  against  the  defects 
of  our  own,  we  are  liable  to  run  into  an  opposite  excess. 
Imagination  like  every  other  faculty,  is  to  be  cultivated  ; 
not  destroyed.  But  what  says  Mrs  Atkinson  ?  I  have 
more  confidence  in  her  opinion,  than  my  own.' 

1  O  you  may  be  sure  of  my  voice,'  replied  Mrs  At- 
kinson in  favor  of  Imagination  —  I  lived  you  know  in 
the  days  when  young  folks  read  Shakspeare  and 
Milton  — '  > 


THE    CHILDREN'S    WEEK.  117 

*  Surely  mamma,'  said  Mrs  Lee,  l  you  would  not  put 
those  books  into  the  hands  of  children.' 

'  No,  I  would  not  permit  an  indiscriminate  perusal  of 
such  books,  nor  give  them  to  mere  children,  for  they 
could  not  be  understood.  But  at  the  age  of  thirteen 
and  fourteen,  they  might  read  much  of  them  with  plea- 
sure and  advantage.  I  may  venture  to  say  this,  for  I 
have  at  this  moment  some  lines  of  Cowper's  in  my 
mind,  that  justify  it.  Alluding  to  his  reading  Milton, 
when  a  boy,  he  says, 

'  his  Paradise  surpass'd 


The  struggling  efforts  of  my  boyish  tongue 

To  speak  its  excellence  ;  I  danced  for  joy. 

I  marvell'd  much  that  at  so  ripe  an  age 

As  twice  seven  years,  his  beauties  then  had  first 

Engaged  my  wonder.' 

Nor  is  this  all  —  they  would  in  after  years  return 
with  greater  thirst  to  these  pure  fountains  of  poesy,  about 
which  would  linger  the  bright  associations  of  their  youth.' 

•  But  do  you  mean  to  say,'  inquired  Mrs  Lee,  '  that 
those  books  were  more  frequently  read  at  that  age  for- 
merly than  now  ?' 

*■  Yes  —  I  do  —  that  is  by  girls,  for  it  is  of  them  only 
I  presume  to  speak.  And  not  only  those  books,  but 
others,  requiring  as  much  effort,  and  about  which  there 
would  perhaps  be  less  question.  It  is  true,  the  educa- 
tion of  my  time  was  sadly  defective3  and  very  limited 


118 


in  its  diffusion ;  yet  I  cannot  admit  that  it  deserves  all 
the  reproach  it  receives.  If  imperfect  and  irregular,  it 
left  something  to  the  spirit  and  exercise  of  our  own 
minds.  With  those  who  had  access  to  books,  (they 
were  few  I  grant,)  the  love  of  reading  was  a  passion, 
not  to  be  discouraged  by  hard  names,  or  goodly-sized 
volumes.  If  we  had  fewer  books,  we  read  them  more 
faithfully,  and  valued  them  more  highly.  With  what 
delight  even  at  eleven  years  of  age,  I  read  the  Iliad  to 
my  mother !  and  I  well  remember  a  young  friend  of 
mine,  not  much  older,  poring  over  the  dry  details  of 
Josephus,  with  as  much  interest  as  if  it  had  been  a 
WTaverly  novel.' 

6  But  grandmamma,'  said  Helen,  '  uncle  Philips  ob- 
jected the  other  day  to  girls  reading  a  great  deal  —  did 
you  not  uncle?' 

*  I  think  not  Helen,'  replied  he,  '  at  least  not  in  the 
sense  in  which  you  seem  to  have  understood  me.  If  I 
remember,  my  objection  was  only  to  such  an  exclusive 
attention  to  books,  as  led  to  a  neglect  of  household  arts ; 
of  these,  no  female,  in  our  country  at  least,  should  be 
willing  to  be  ignorant.' 

i  I  must  ask  you  one  more  question  mamma,'  said 
Mrs  Lee,  f  you  surely  allow  that  there  is  a  vast  improve- 
ment in  the  present  system  of  education  ? 

'Certainly,  replied  Mrs  Atkinson,  —  I  should  be  a 
prejudiced  old  woman  indeed  to  deny  that  —  while  my 


THE    CHILDREN'S    WEEK.  119 

analysis  of  nature  extended  no  further  than  the  doctrine 
of  the  four  elements,  my  grandchildren  at  the  same  age 
have  studied  natural  philosophy,  —  have  stored  their 
minds  with  useful  facts  in  chemistry,  —  and  for  aught 
that  I  know,'  continued  she,  laughing,  l  have  found  out 
that  there  are  no  elements  at  all  —  and  this  is  a  sample 
of  the  rest.  Popular  errors  are  exploded,  science  is 
made  intelligible  and  attractive,  every  study  illustrated 
and  simplified,  the  most  gifted  minds  condescend  to  the 
labor  of  instruction,  —  and  these  benefits  are  extended 
to  all.  With  a  judicious  use  of  such  means,  it  is  ob- 
vious, that  an  education  may  now  be  obtained  far  su- 
perior to  any  that  was  known  formerly.  But  from  these 
very  advantages  come  some  evils.  A  diversity  of 
studies  results  too  often  in  superficial  attainment;  and 
the  ease  with  which  new  books  are  obtained,  leads  to  a 
negfect  of  some  old  ones,  best  calculated  to  improve  the 
mind,  and  enrich  the  imagination.  But  it  is  time  to  cut 
short  this  sober  discussion,  for  I  see  Matty  peeping  in 
at  the  door  to  remind  me  of  my  duty.  She  has  been 
so  good  as  to  allow  me  a  partnership  in  her  evening, 
which  I  have  taken  advantage  of,  to  order  a  little  sup- 
per ;  that  our  friend  Mr  Robertson  might  be  sure  of 
something  rather  more  satisfactory,  than  poetry  and 
fairies. —  Come,  one  and  all,'  added  she,  rising,  •  for 
on  this  occasion  I  suppose  the  youngest  may  partake, 


120 


as  the  repast  is  almost  light  enough  for  the  fairies 
themselves.' 

'  My  dear  Madam,'  said  Mr  Robertson,  offering  his 
arm,  ?  I  do  admire  your  consideration  —  A  supper  is  • — 
is  —  in  short  it  is  like  every  thing  you  do  —  most  ac- 
ceptable.' When  seated  at  the  table,  they  were  all  for 
a  time  too  well  occupied,  to  observe  the  significant 
smiles  and  looks  of  Matty,  directed  towards  a  covered 
dish  in  the  centre.  At  length,  however,  Mr  Robert- 
son's attention  was  attracted  to  it. 

'  If  you  please,  Mrs  Atkinson,'  said  he,  '  I  will  inspect 
this  dish — ' 

c  Do  so,'  replied  she.  '  It  is  a  sort  of  a  pic-nic,  — 
composed  of  ingredients  furnished  by  each  of  us.' 

Mr  Robertson,  having  drawn  it  towards  him,  removed 
the  cover  ;  and  disclosed  the  little  fairy-purse,  bearing 
a  label,  on  which  was  written,  '  A  bridal  gift  for  Fanny 
Dale.' 

There  was  a  general  expression  of  surprise  and 
pleasure.  A  few  words  explained  to  Mr  and  Mrs  Lee 
the  interest  attached  to  the  individual,  upon  which  they 
declared  it  impossible,  that  any  one  should  desire  to 
avail  themselves  of  the  permission  to  withdraw  their 
contribution. 

*  How  much  have  we  got,  Matty  ?'  said  Mr  Robert- 
son, s  let  us  see  —  ' 


121 


s  Almost  eight  dollars  !'  she  exclaimed,  with  anima- 
tion, '  and  that  will  get  her  six  silver  tea-spoons  !' 

I  Now,  Matty,'  said  Mr  Robertson,  '  I  '11  tell  you 
what  I '11  do.  As  it  is  probably  maliciously  supposed, 
from  my  remaining  a  bachelor,  that  I  have  not  a  proper 
respect  for  matrimony,  it  will  be  prudent  to  take  this 
opportunity  of  putting  such  slanders  to  silence.  And 
so,  Matty,  I  '11  just  add  enough  to  buy  the  sugar-tongs 
—  for  though  they  may  not  want  it  in  the  honey-moon, 
I  suspect  they  will  afterwards.' 

Words  cannot  express  Matty's  satisfaction  at  this 
concurrence  in  her  design  to  honor  her  friend  Fanny. 

'  And  when  is  the  gift  to  be  presented  ?'  asked  Mr 
Philips. 

I I  would  wait  till  the  wedding,'  said  Matty,  '  but  as 
cousin  Helen  will  only  stay  till  Monday  morning,  and 
she  would,  I  dare  say,  like  to  go  with  us,  I  meant  to 
ask  mother  to  let  me  go  with  it  to-morrow.' 

1 1  thought  so,'  said  Mrs  Philips, '  money  I  find  burns 
in  the  fairy's  purse,  as  well  as  in  your  own  pocket, 
Matty.' 

'  Fanny  will  be  so  pleased,  mother,'  said  Matty  —  '  I 
wish  William  could  see  it  too,  but  he  will  see  better 
things  than  this  soon  —  ' 

'  How  interesting  it  will  be,'  exclaimed  Helen, { when 
he  sees   his  parents  again  !    and  Fanny  too !    how  I 
should  like  to  be  present !  —  ' 
13 


122  the  children's  week. 

'  Only  think,  though,5  said  Sarah,  '  if  the  operation 
should  not  succeed  after  all !  —  it  would  be  dreadful  to 
witness  his  disappointment.' 

'  But  uncle,'  said  Matty  earnestly,  '  there  is  no  dan- 
ger of  that  now  —  is  there  ?  —  why  don't  you  speak, 
uncle  ?  —  O  you  smile  —  then  I  know  there  is  n't  — •' 

1  Have  you  not  heard,  Matty,'  said  Dr  Atkinson, 
'  that  prudent  physicians  never  commit  themselves  by 
a  hasty  opinion  ?  —  I  promise  you,  however,  that  you 
shall  know  William's  fate,  good  or  bad,  before  Helen 
leaves  you  — ' 

6  Shall  we  !'  exclaimed  the  girls. 

{ Yes,'  continued  he,  '  and  furthermore,  I  invite  all 
you  young  folks  who  have  been  so  much  interested  in 
my  patient,  to  go  with  me  to-morrow,  to  see  him  —  now 
Matty,  I  've  told  you  as  much  as  I  have  any  one.' 

This  permission  was  received  with  much  satisfaction ; 
while  whispers  and  significant  looks  made  known  the 
favorable  auguries  deduced  from  it. 

Thus  closed  the  week ;  leaving  to  our  young  friends 
the  pleasant  reflection,  that  they  had  each,  in  some 
degree,  contributed  to  the  happiness  and  good  humor, 
by  which  it  had  been  distinguished. 


CHAPTER   XI 


The  secret  sympathy, 


The  silver  link,  the  silken  tie  ; 

Which  heart  to  heart.,  and  mind  to  mind. 

In  body  and  in  soul  can  bind. 


Scott. 


Sunday  morning  rose  most  auspiciously.  — i  Grand- 
mamma,' said  Matilda,  as  she  was  putting  on  her  hat,  in 
preparation  for  church, '  when  are  we  to  go  to  Mr 
Howell's  ?  —  I  do  long  to  carry  Fanny  her  present.' 

1  The  time  appointed  is  after  the  afternoon  service,' 
replied  Mrs  Atkinson,'  —  and  now,  Matty,  dear,  don't 
talk  any  more  about  it  till  that  time  comes,  —  and  what 
is  more,  don't  think  about  it.' 

6  Why  surely,  grandmamma,  it  is  no  harm  to  think  of 
what  will  give  pleasure  to  others  as  well  as  myself — 
besides,  I  can't  help  thinking  of  it.     Can  you,  girls  ?' 

Helen  and  Sarah  smiled,  but  they  did  not  pretend  to 
any  superior  self-control. 

6  But  you  must  remember,  Matty,'  said  Mrs  Atkin- 
son, '  that  time  and  place  may  render  that  improper, 


124  the  children's  week. 

which  is  in  itself  innocent.  — Listen  to  me  a  few  mo- 
ments, and  perhaps  I  can  provide  you  with  some  other 
subjects  for  your  thoughts,  and  thus  show  you  that  you 
can  help  thinking  of  this.  —  Have  we  not  had  a  pleasant 
week  ?' 

'  Yes,  grandmamma,  that  we  have  !'  exclaimed  Ma- 
tilda. 

'  Last  Saturday,'  continued  Mrs  Atkinson,  '  we  traced 
out  to  ourselves  a  little  plan  of  domestic  enjoyment ; 
but  how  many  things  might  have  occurred  to  disturb  it. 
Sickness  at  home,  bad  news  from  abroad,  —  death  itself, 
might  have  turned  our  joy  to  mourning.  And  does  it 
not  call  for  thankfulness,  that  we  have  been  preserved 
from  suffering,  and  have  also  enjoyed  some  of  the  best 
pleasures  of  which  our  natures  are  susceptible,  in  the 
expression  and  cultivation  of  kind  feelings  ?' 

■  Yes,  grandmamma,'  said  Matty.  Helen  and  Sarah 
too,  assented,  for  they  understood  by  the  direction  of 
Mrs  Atkinson's  eye,  that  they  also  were  included  in  the 
inquiry. 

'Then  gratitude  to  our  great  Preserver,  should 
occupy  some  of  our  thoughts  to-day  ;  —  should  it  not?' 

■  To  be  sure,  grandmamma.'       v 

c  But,  my  dear  girls,  though  we  have  been  happy, 
and  our  occupations  harmless,  still  our  imperfections 
have  mingled  with  them  —  is  not  this  a  cause  for 
regret  ?  and  does  it  not  require  acknowledgment  ?* 


125 


£  Yes,  certainly,  grandmamma,'  said  Matilda,  her  face 
gradually  assuming  a  thoughtful,  and  humble  expres- 
sion. 

<  Then  too,  dear,'  said  Mrs  Atkinson,  '  though  not 
forbidden  to  derive  pleasure  from  the  consideration  ot 
a  kind  action  about  to  be  performed,  we  may  so  think 
of  it,  with  such  an  exaltation  of  ourselves,  that  it  may 
become  less  commendable.  Is  it  not,  therefore,  best 
to  endeavor  to  do  all  things,  in  such  a  manner  as  may 
render  them  acceptable  in  His  sight,  who  is  not  unob- 
servant of  our  smallest  actions  ?' 

*  Yes,  grandmother  —  I  suppose  it  is — ' 

'  Well,  then  —  to  apply  this  to  the  present  case  — 
try  so  to  occupy  your  minds  to-clay,  that  your  visit  to 
Mr  Howell's  may  do  you  good,  as  well  as  gratify  you. 
Besides  affording  you  an  opportunity  of  giving  pleasure, 
what  you  will  there  see  may  suggest  important  and 
interesting  reflections;  for  though  your  uncle  has  not 
chosen  to  speak  with  certainty  of  his  success,  such  I 
trust  will  be  the  fact.  You  will  then  behold  the  eyes 
of  a  fellow  creature  opened.  —  What  can  be  more 
affecting  ?  It  should  fill  you  with  gratitude  as  well  as 
joy  ;  —  and  should  bring  with  it  still  other  thoughts,  by 
leading  you  to  reflect  on  that  wonderful  Being,  who 
when  on  earth,  by  a  touch  —  a  word  —  removed  such 
obstructions  ;  —  and  even  more,  —  who  gives  light  to 
the  mind,  as  well  as  to  the  body.' 
13* 


126  the  children's  week. 

Mrs  Atkinson  paused  —  and  Matty  sate  for  some 
moments  in  a  reflecting  attitude. 

*  Now,  my  dear,'  resumed  her  grandmother,  *  having 
helped  you  to  subjects  for  meditation,  which  may  serve 
to  keep  out  thoughts  less  fitting,  as  the  carriage  is  at  the 
door,  I  will  trust  to  your  own  convictions  to  make  use 
of  them,  without  further  comment.' 

Matty,  who  was  an  upright  child,  willing  to  perceive 
and  to  do  her  duty,  honestly  endeavored  to  observe  her 
grandmamma's  injunctions  ;  nor  were  Helen  and  Sarah 
regardless  of  their  participation  in  them. 

The  hour  for  the  visit  to  Mr  Howell's  arrived.  On 
entering  the  house  they  found  the  family  assembled  in 
expectation  of  Dr  Atkinson  ;  and  that  as  they  had  sus- 
pected, there  was  now  to  be  a  termination  of  their 
suspense.  The  young  people  were  received  as  friends 
on  whose  sympathy  they  could  rely  — 

'  I  am  so  glad  you  've  come  !'  said  Mrs  Howell.  ■  If 
it  is  God's  will  that  William  should  get  his  sight,  I  'm 
sure  there  's  few  faces  he  'd  be  better  pleased  to  see 
than  yours.' 

Fanny  pressed  a  hand  of  each  of  the  girls,  but  did 
not  speak  —  while  Helen  remarked  to  Sarah  how  pretty 
she  looked  in  her  Sunday  dress,  and  straw  bonnet, — 
which  last,  in  the  interest  that  now  occupied  her,  she 
had  forgotten  to  lay  aside. 


THE    CHILDREN'S   WEEK.  12? 

A  few  moments  were  now  spent  in  selecting  a  favor- 
able position  for  William,  and  in  such  a  management  of 
the  light,  that  it  might  not  be  too  suddenly  or  strongly 
admitted  to  the  organ.  The  manner  of  these  little 
preparations  sufficiently  indicated  the  feelings  of  those 
most  interested  ;  for  while  every  instant  appeared  an 
age,  each,  notwithstanding,  seemed  willing  to  defer  a 
moment,  which  was  to  confirm  or  extinguish  their 
hopes.  William  was  apparently  the  most  calm  ;  but 
his  expressive  mouth,  nevertheless,  betrayed  the  con- 
trariety of  his  emotions ;  —  showing  by  turns  an  assu- 
rance of  success,  or  the  effort  by  which  he  prepared 
himself  for  disappointment. 

Mrs  Howell  placed  herself  near  her  son  on  one  side, 
while  his  father,  on  the  other,  with  an  anxious  and 
incredulous  look,  watched  the  movements  of  Dr  Atkin- 
son. Every  eye  was  fixed,  —  every  tongue  mute.  The 
surgeon  slowly  and  carefully  proceeded.  The  outer 
bandage  was  removed,  and  the  thin  compress  alone 
remained.  This  was  cautiously  displaced  —  the  eyes 
opened  —  and  William,  turning  to  his  father,  extended 
his  hand  in  token  of  recognition  — 

'  Thank  God  !  thank  God  !'  exclaimed  the  old  man 
—  his  hardy  face  yielding  to  his  strong  and  natural 
emotion. 

From  his  father,  William  turned  to  his  mother.  She 
bent  forward  to  embrace  him,  and  he  rested  his  head 


J28 


on  her  shoulder  ;  while  the  look  with  which  he  regard- 
ed her,  seemed  to  say,  that  though  years  had  left  their 
traces,  she  was  still  the  original  of  the  picture  in  his 
heart.  —  But  soon  he  turned  in  search  of  another 
object,  —  and  the  first  word  he  uttered  was  '  Fanny.'' 

She  had  modestly  retired  to  a  remote  part  of  the 
room,  as  if  unwilling  to  assert  her  own  claims  at  this 
moment.  On  hearing  her  name  pronounced  by  Wil- 
liam she  would  have  advanced,  but  a  signal  from  Dr 
Atkinson  prevented  her. 

'  William/  said  he,  '  you  have  behaved  so  well 
throughout,  that  I  am  sure  you  will  permit  me  to  make 
an  experiment,  to  which  I  am  much  tempted.  Now  do 
me  the  favor  to  select  Fanny  from  those  three  girls. 
I'll  give  you  two  chances,  and  if  you  don't  hit  right, 
I  '11  forbid  the  banns.' 

The  doctor's  request  had  the  effect  he  intended,  of 
relieving  a  scene  which  was  becoming  more  interesting 
than  he  wished. 

The  girls  were  at  some  distance  from  each  other. 
Their  height  was  nearly  the  same  ;  —  Helen  was  rather 
the  tallest,  —  a  circumstance,  which  together  with  the 
delicate  features,  and  youthful  countenance  of  Fanny, 
might,  notwithstanding  the  difference  of  their  ages,  have 
deceived  a  more  accurate  sight. 

William's  eye  wandered  from  Sarah  to  Helen, — from 
Helen  to  Fanny  ;  —  now  resting  on  one,  —  now  on  the 


129 


other ;  and  finally  reverting  to  Helen,  he  paused.  It 
was  not  long  however,  for,  turning  away  with  a  per- 
plexed and  dissatisfied  look,  and  closing  his  eyes,  as  if 
despairing  of  their  assistance,  he  rose,  and  walking  for- 
ward, placed  his  hand  on  one  of  them,  saying  at  the 
same  time,  and  with  an  undoubting  tone,  '  I  knoiv  this 
is  Fanny  !  ' —  He  opened  his  eyes,  and  his  hand  did 
indeed  rest  on  her  shoulder  ;  his  countenance  expres- 
sing at  once  his  fondness,  and  his  satisfaction  ;  and  the 
quick  pulsations  of  their  hearts  were  communicated  to 
all  present. 

Composure  being  restored,  and  Doctor  Atkinson  per- 
ceiving that  Matty  did  not  well  know  how  to  introduce 
her  own  special  business,  prepared  the  way  by  saying, 
1  Fanny  do  you  believe  in  Fairies  ?' 

4  No,  sir,'  said  Fanny,  with  all  seriousness,  —  sur- 
prised at  the  abrupt  inquiry. 

'You  will  be  obliged  then,  I  think,'  continued  he,  '  to 
enlarge  your  creed,  for  Matilda  has  a  favor  for  you  even 
from  their  very  queen.' 

Matty  now  came  forward,  and  placed  in  Fanny's  lap 
the  fairy-purse.  —  A  conscious  look  told  that  the  label 
had  caught  her  eye,  at  the  same  time  that  in  a  low  tone 
she  expressed  her  acknowledgments. 

'  O  you  need  not  thank  me,'  said  Matty  —  and  she 
was  going  on  to  give  particulars,  but  her  uncle  inter- 


130  THE    CHILDREN'S   WEEK. 

rupted  her  with  a  hint  that  it  was  time  to  take  their 
leave. 

1  Only  let  me  tell  Fanny,  uncle, — just  so  that  she 
can  understand  — ' 

This  could  not  be  denied, —  and  having  made  the 

matter    intelligible,   and  received   her  full  return  in  the 

grateful  looks  of  William  and  Fanny,  she  consented  to  go. 

On  their  return,  the  scene  they  had  just  witnessed, 

naturally  became  die  subject  of  conversation. 

'  Uncle,'  said  Helen,  l  was  it  not  wonderful  that  Wil- 
liam should  not  be  able  to  discover  Fanny  with  his  eyes, 
and  yet  do  so  without  them  ?' 

c  Not  so  wonderful  my  dear,  as  if  he  had  discovered 
her  by  their  assistance.' 

1  Why,  uncle  !'  exclaimed  she,  '  how  can  that  be  !' 
1  You  have  not  reflected,  Helen,'  said  he,  '  or  you 
would  not  be  thus  surprised.  How  should  he  know 
her  by  sight  when  he  had  never  seen  her  ?  He  had  un- 
doubtedly formed  an  image  of  her  in  his  mind,  and  had 
to  a  certain  extent,  by  measurement  and  description, 
made  some  approach  to  the  truth.  But  though  de- 
scription and  touch  might  have  conveyed  some  impres- 
sion of  her  stature,  the  height  of  her  forehead,  the  curve 
of  her  brow,  the  length  and  figure  of  her  nose,  the  size 
of  her  mouth,  —  what  but  sight  itself  could  give  him  the 
expression  resulting  from  their  combination  ?  —  There 


134 


has  been  much  discussion,  as  to  the  fact,  of  the  power 
of  those  blind  from  infancy,  to  recognise  by  the  eye 
when  restored  to  sight,  the  forms  of  things  known  to 
them  before  by  the  touch  —  for  instance,  whether  they 
would  know  a  round  body  from  a  square  one.  There 
have  been  a  very  few  remarkable  cases,  in  which  this 
has  appeared  to  be  the  fact ;  but  for  the  rest,  such  per- 
sons are  incapable  at  first  of  this  discrimination.  They 
are  sometimes  even  unable  to  direct  their  eyes  properly, 
have  no  idea  of  distance,  — supposing  bodies  to  be  in 
contact  with  their  eyes ;  and  on  the  most  simple  and 
familiar  objects  being  presented  to  them, —  a  cup  and 
saucer  for  instance,  —  cannot  without  submitting  it  to 
their  touch,  tell  what  it  is.' 

'  But  William  has  not  been  blind  from  infancy,' 
said  Helen. 

'  No,  —  and  therefore  these  cases,  and  his,  are  not 
parallel  —  but  you  must  recollect,  that  what  you  ex- 
pected of  him,  involved  yet  greater  difficulties,  than  the 
apprehension  of  mere  forms.' 

'  I  was  not  surprised  at  any  thing,'  said  Richard,  f  but 
at  the  certainty  with  which  William  directed  his  course 
to  Fanny  —  there  was  no  touch  in  that  —  and  why  too, 
if  he  could  do  so  with  his  eyes  shut,  could  he  not  do  it 
with  them  open  ?' 

1 1  suppose,'  said  his  uncle,  '  you  would  choose  to 
consider  it  a  beautiful  instance  of  a  lover's  instinct — ' 


132 


'  Yes,  I  think  I  should,'  replied  Richard,  '  but  I  am 
afraid  that  you  will  give  it  what  uncle  Philips  calls,  a 
"  common  sense  explanation."  ' 

'  I  shall  certainly  try  to  do  so,'  said  Doctor  Atkinson. 
'  Let  me  see —  In  the  first  place  you  must  consider  the 
confusion  produced  by  the  sight  of  external  objects, 
after  long  disuse  of  the  organ  ;  and  that  while  thus 
perplexed,  other  avenues  of  perception,  would  be  com- 
paratively closed.  But  as  soon  as  he  shuts  his  eyes, 
his  mind  returns  to  its  usual  modes  of  operation.  His 
ear  recovers  its  acuteness,  and  detects  sounds  so  slight 
as  to  escape  us  altogether.  A  single  movement  of  her 
foot,  the  rustling  of  her  garments,  her  very  breathing, 
have  to  him  a  peculiar  character,  and  may  serve  to 
indicate  the  spot  she  occupies.  Besides,  Fanny  may 
have  had  a  flower  in  her  bosom  —  that,  Richard,  would 
solve  the  whole ;  and  by  the  by,  furnish  as  sen- 
timental an  explanation  as  your  own,  —  a  lover  attracted 
by  odors  to  his  mistress.  It  may  have  been  a  rose,  — 
the  "  maiden-blush,"  for  instance,  which  you  know  sig- 
nifies in  the  mystical  language  of  flowers,  "  If  you  love 
me,  you  will  find  me  out — "  ' 

i  Ah,  uncle,'  cried  Richard,  '  that  is  coming  round 
to  my  solution  after  all,  —  the  lover's  instinct.'  To 
this,  however,  his  uncle  demurred  ;  and  it  was  finally 
agreed  that  each  should  retain  the  opinion  most  agreea- 
ble to  himself. 


133 


In  the  evening,  one  after  another,  the  younger  part 
of  the  circle  gathered  round  Mrs  Atkinson. 

6  Grandmamma,'  said  Helen,  '  we  have  had  a  delight- 
ful visit  —  the  last  week  especially,  has  absolutely  flown, 
and  for  that  you  know  we  are  indebted  to  you.' 

'  And  mother,  and  father  too,'  said  Matty,  who  was 
always  for  a  fair  distribution  of  thanks.  '  If  they  had 
not  given  consent,  we  could  not  have  had  half  so  much 
pleasure,  I  'm  sure.' 

6  That  is  well  remembered,  dear  Matty,'  said  her 
grandmother,'  and  for  that  I  owe  them  as  much  as  you 
do*  But  now  that  the  pleasure  is  over  it  is  not  I  hope, 
to  be  succeeded  by  listlessness  and  vain  regrets.  Those 
are  the  fruits  of  immoderate  and  enervating  indulgence  ; 
rational  and  innocent  enjoyments  perpetuate  themselves 
by  pleasant  remembrances.  As  they  afford  too,  a 
healthful  stimulus,  you  will  all  I  am  sure,  return  to  your 
studies  with  increased  diligence.  I  do  not  presume  to 
give  such  superfluous  counsel  to  young  gentlemen  like 
Richard  and  Jasper,  in  whose  ears  I  dare  say  Latin 
and  Greek  are  at  this  moment  ringing  a  "  concord  of 
sweet  sounds  "  —  but  to  the  rest,  I  may  venture  I  sup- 
pose a  gentle  hint  at  their  duty.' 

'  For  my  part,  grandmamma,'  said  Helen,  '  I  feel 
a  greater  desire  for  improvement  than  I  ever  felt  before, 
and  for  a  reason  which  I  dare  say  you  would  not  guess.' 
14 


134 


'  And  what  is  that,  Helen  ? '  said  Mrs  Atkinson. 

' 1  know,'  said  Helen,  in  a  tone  of  some  embarrass- 
ment,' '  I  know  it  is  not  polite  to  speak  of  a  person's 
age  —  but  you  are  so  good,  grandmamma,  that  you  will 
excuse  it.  What  I  was  going  to  say,  is,  that  when  I 
see  a  person  so  agreeable  at  your  age  as  you  are,  I 
know  it  can  only  be  because  they  were  industrious  in 
their  youth — I  have  sometimes  had  a  desire  to  be  ac- 
complished as  a  young  lady,  but  I  think  I  shall  now  care 
much  more,  to  be  so  when  an  old  one.' 

'  You  will  be  obliged  to  try  pretty  hard,  I  can  tell  you, 
Helen,'  said  Hugh,  whose  blunt  honesty  was  always 
uppermost;  'to. be  such  an  old  lady  as  grandmamma, 
for  you  must  be  good  too,  and  that  is  a  deal  harder, 
than  to  be  agreeable'.' 

'  Yes,  Hugh,'  replied  Helen,  I  that  is  very  true,  and  I 
have  had  many  thoughts  about  that  too,  that  I  never 
had  before,  for  which  I  hope  to  be  the  better,  though 
I  own  I  have  no  expectations  of  ever  equalling  grand- 
mamma.' 

'Besides,  Hugh,'  said  Sarah,  'we  should  always 
choose  the  best  models,  as  our  drawing  master  says-, 
even  if  we  can't  equal  them.' 

'  Thanks  and  blessings  for  your  love,  my  dear  chil- 
dren I '  said  Mrs  Atkinson  ;  '  my  head  is  too  old  to  be 
-turned  by  compliments,  or  yours  would  be  fatal  to  me.' 


THE    CHILDREN'S    WEEK.  135 

But  precious  as  your  affection  is,  I  cannot  wish  that  it 
should  obscure  your  judgments.  As  you  advance  your- 
selves, your  standard  will  become  higher  and  higher ; 
and  you  will  hereafter  look  back  with  a  smile,  at  your 
exaggerated  estimate  of  "  grandmamma."  When  that 
time  comes,  all  I  ask  of  you,  is,  that  you  will  neverthe- 
less continue  to  love  me  as  well,  as  I  am  willing  to 
believe  you  have,  during  this  happy  Children' 's  Week/ 


# 


■ 


